Department for Transport

Department for Transport: Civil Servants

Dan Jarvis: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, how many civil servants working in his Department are based outside of Greater London, and at which locations; and what plans he has for the further relocation of civil servants in his Department to outside of Greater London.

Chris Heaton-Harris: Across the Department for Transport Group (the core Department and its four Executive Agencies) 79% of staff are based outside of London.The core Department has 427 staff (of a total workforce of 3,457) outside of London in the following locations:AldershotBirminghamBristolCambridgeDerbyGuildfordHastingsLeedsLiverpoolNewcastle Upon TyneNottinghamSouthamptonSwanseaWokingThe Department’s Executive Agencies have 12,064 staff (of a total workforce of 12,433) outside London.DVSA has over 100 locations outside of London with its largest bases in Bristol, Swansea, Nottingham, Tyneside, Leeds, Birmingham and Staffordshire.VCA is predominantly based in Bristol and Nuneaton.MCA has 38 locations outside of London with its largest bases in Southampton and Portsmouth.DVLA is predominantly (over 6,000 staff) based in Swansea.The core Department is exploring options for expanding its presence in the regions and nations of the UK as part of the Government’s commitment to move 22,000 civil service roles out of London by 2030. We will announce our plans once finalised.

Travel: Coronavirus

Chi Onwurah: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, with reference to the new form required to be completed by people travelling abroad from England, whether that form must be completed by non residents and/or foreign nationals; and whether migrating to another country is a permitted reason to travel abroad.

Robert Courts: All people travelling from England outside the Common Travel Area, including foreign nationals, are required to complete a travel declaration form unless they are exempt. Details of exemptions can be found on gov.uk (https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/coronavirus-covid-19-travellers-exempt-from-uk-border-rules/coronavirus-covid-19-travellers-exempt-from-uk-border-rules). Those under 18 and those that lack capacity are not required to have a travel declaration form. If travelling with a responsible adult, however, that responsible adult must complete a form on their behalf. Under the current stay at home restrictions, people may only leave home or the place where they are living if they have a reasonable excuse. Moving house is a reasonable excuse for these purposes, so travelling abroad in order to move home is permitted and may be stated on the travel declaration form. Whether someone is in fact travelling for the purposes of moving home will be a matter of fact, which police may assess if questioning an individual.

Public Transport

Sajid Javid: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what steps his Department has taken to support green investment in public transport.

Rachel Maclean: A decarbonised transport system is at the heart of the Government’s Ten Point Plan for a Green Industrial Revolution, which will mobilise £12 billion of government investment to unlock three times as much private sector investment by 2030. Our upcoming Transport Decarbonisation Plan will set out more clearly the steps we will take to deliver transport’s contribution to net zero, stimulating development and private sector investment.

Ferries: Coronavirus

Emma Hardy: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what assessment he has made of the effectiveness of consumer protections for transactions for ferry travel during the covid-19 outbreak.

Robert Courts: The Department for Transport holds regular discussions with ferry companies and has made clear that the requirements of passenger rights regulations remain in force during the Covid pandemic. Companies are required to comply with their legal obligations and honour passenger’s rights.

Railway Stations: Pedestrian Areas

Jane Hunt: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what (a) steps the Government is taking to ensure the safety of blind and partially sighted people at train stations and (b) assessment his Department has made of the potential merits of making tactile edging on platforms mandatory.

Chris Heaton-Harris: Operators involved in the management of stations are responsible for ensuring the safety of all passengers on the premises. The Office of Rail and Roads (ORR) is the safety regulator of Britain’s railway and can take enforcement action if these standards are not met. There are clear safety and accessibility benefits of installing platform edge tactiles. Whenever the industry installs, replaces or renews platform infrastructure they must install appropriate tactile surfaces. Network Rail has also been asked to develop a programme to ensure all platforms have them installed as quickly as possible.

Railway Stations: Access

Jonathan Gullis: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, whether Longport Railway Station will be eligible for Network Rail's Access for All scheme.

Chris Heaton-Harris: All of the funding currently available to Access for All has been allocated to projects. We are in the process of setting the funding envelopes for the next control period. When further funding is available, any station without an accessible route into the station and to all platforms will be a potential candidate.

Aviation: Coronavirus

Mr Barry Sheerman: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what recent discussions he has had with commercial airline companies on issuing refunds to customers over the covid-19 period.

Robert Courts: The Government is continuing to work with industry to ensure timely refunds to consumers during the pandemic. The Civil Aviation Authority reviewed airlines’ compliance on refunds last summer and worked collaboratively to improve their performance on consumer obligations. A significant majority of airlines now pay refunds within a reasonable time. The Competition and Markets Authority are currently reviewing the practices of airline and travel agents in issuing refunds to customers affected by the travel restrictions.

Global Travel Taskforce

Mark Menzies: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what steps his Department has taken to ensure the representation of aerospace manufacturers in the work of the Global Travel Taskforce.

Robert Courts: The Government is working closely with the transport industry, the tourism sector, the aerospace industry and international partners to develop a roadmap to safely re-open international travel.We are planning several round-table events with industry to encourage contributions to the work of the Global Travel Taskforce from a wide range of partners, including the aerospace industry. The Taskforce is due to report its recommendations to the Prime Minister by 12 April.

Department for Transport: North of England

Dan Jarvis: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what assessment he has made of the potential merits of creating a Department for Transport North.

Chris Heaton-Harris: The Department is exploring options for expanding its presence in the regions and nations of the UK as part of the Government’s commitment to move 22,000 civil service roles out of London by 2030. These options include locations in the north of England. We will announce our plans once finalised.

Railway Network: Carbon Emissions

Catherine West: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what steps he is taking to reduce emissions on the rail network.

Chris Heaton-Harris: In the last three years, we have completed almost 700 single track miles of rail electrification in England and Wales, and we will continue to electrify more of the rail network in the years ahead. We are also supporting the development of new low-carbon technologies in rail, like battery and hydrogen trains, through innovation funding and research. The Network Rail-led Traction Decarbonisation Network Strategy (TDNS) provides advice about which decarbonising technologies (electrification, hydrogen, or battery) could best suit each part of the network. TDNS will inform the Department’s forthcoming Transport Decarbonisation Plan and Government decisions about the scale and pace of rail decarbonisation between now and 2050. Emissions from diesel trains can contribute to air pollution hotspots, with stations being an area of particular concern. The Government is funding a new £4.5 million air quality monitoring network, which will measure air pollution in up to 100 stations across the GB railway. Once established, the network will help to identify priority locations where air quality improvement measures are most needed.

Railways: North Wales

Virginia Crosbie: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what assessment he has made of the potential benefits of HS2 for people in Ynys Môn; and what plans he has for rail investment in North Wales.

Andrew Stephenson: HS2 will free up capacity on the existing West Coast Main Line which could be used for additional services. Current plans would see North Wales passengers benefiting from an HS2 interchange at Crewe, with shorter journey times than those currently possible on the West Coast Main Line to Holyhead.In addition, we are progressing the development of a line speed enhancement scheme for the North Wales Coast Line, and the Prime Minister has asked Sir Peter Hendy CBE to undertake an independent review into transport connections across Scotland, Wales, Northern Ireland and England. The review will make recommendations on how the UK Government can level up transport infrastructure, boosting access to opportunities and improving people’s everyday connections.

Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency: Remote Working

Grahame Morris: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, pursuant to the Answer of 1 March 2021 to Question 158241 on Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency: Remote Working, if he will place a copy of a suitably redacted version of the Deloitte report on options for DVLA staff to work from home in the Library.

Rachel Maclean: There are no plans to place either a full or redacted version of reports which include references to the DVLA’s IT system in the public domain.

Motor Vehicles: Excise Duties

Navendu Mishra: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what estimate he has made of the number of people who were not notified that their vehicle excise duty was due for payment in the latest period for which figures are available; and how much revenue is generated by late or non-payment of that duty.

Rachel Maclean: The Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency (DVLA) issues more than three million vehicle excise duty reminders each month. Non-delivery of a reminder may happen in certain circumstances such as, the vehicle keeper having moved house and not advised the DVLA of the new address or it may have been lost in the post. No figures are available, but complaints about non-delivery of vehicle excise duty reminders are rare. There are a number of ways to license a vehicle, including online or by telephone 24 hours a day, seven days a week or at one of around 4,000 Post Office branches across the UK. Customers can also check when their vehicle excise duty is due using the DVLA’s online Vehicle Enquiry Service. The registered keeper is responsible for ensuring that their vehicle is properly licensed or subject to a Statutory Off Road Notification. Enforcement activities against unlicensed vehicles accounted for around £88 million in fines and penalties during 2019/20.

Driving Licences: Reciprocal Arrangements

Tim Loughton: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, when the UK-France reciprocal agreement on driving licences will be agreed.

Rachel Maclean: The Government is making every effort to reach a swift understanding with France regarding long-term licence exchange arrangements for UK nationals resident in France, and vice-versa. UK nationals who became resident in France before 1 January 2021 can continue to use their valid UK licences until 31 December 2021. The French authorities have confirmed that a valid UK licence will continue to be exchanged in this period, until a reciprocal agreement is reached between the United Kingdom and France.

High Speed 2 Railway Line: South Northamptonshire

Andrea Leadsom: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, how many compulsory purchases of properties affected by HS2 there have been in South Northamptonshire.

Andrew Stephenson: With respect to General Vesting Declarations, Notice To Treat/Notice Of Entry and Schedule 16 (temporary occupation) in South Northamptonshire, we have the following information: General Vesting Declarations – 21 have been executed covering land in the district of South Northamptonshire. These can be found on our website: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/hs2-phase-one-compulsory-purchase-general-vesting-declarations-for-south-northamptonshire Notice To Treat/Notice Of Entry – 3 Land Areas, resulting in 7 notices (These Land Areas are also included in the Schedule 16 count as they included both notice types) Schedule 16 (temporary occupation) – 21 Land Areas, resulting in 281 notices

High Speed 2 Railway Line: South Northamptonshire

Andrea Leadsom: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, how many people in South Northamptonshire constituency are awaiting reimbursement of legal costs by HS2.

Andrew Stephenson: HS2 Ltd has made forty-eight payments to date on cases in this constituency relating to compulsory purchase. HS2 Ltd has also completed thirty-four statutory blight and discretionary scheme payments. HS2 Ltd has identified thirty-eight payments on cases in the constituency that are yet to be completed, all relating to compulsory purchase.Of this thirty-eight: thirty-three are in negotiation (twenty-five permanent possession and eight temporary occupation), three marked as in dispute (all temporary occupation) and two currently rejected (both permanent possession). Many of these will have legal fees associated with them. Legal fees are paid at particular points in a claim when substantive evidence is provided.

High Speed 2 Railway Line: South Northamptonshire

Andrea Leadsom: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what noise modelling process HS2 has used to assess the level of noise resulting from the building and operation of HS2 for Radstone in South Northamptonshire constituency.

Andrew Stephenson: HS2 Ltd’s construction contractors are predicting noise from the construction of HS2 in accordance with the methodologies set out in BS 5228-1:2009+A1:2014 “Code of practice for noise and vibration control on construction and open sites. Noise”. Noise and vibration assessments are shared with relevant local authorities through applications for prior consent for work on construction sites according to Section 61 of the Control of Pollution Act 1974. To predict noise from the operational railway, HS2 Ltd’s contractor EKFB is using the prediction model originally developed for HS1. Input assumptions have been varied to reflect relevant differences, such as the higher speeds of HS2. The hybrid Bill process intensively scrutinised how the HS1 noise model should be applied to HS2, and which input assumptions should be used. Using the model, EKFB is developing a design that is compliant with the HS2 Environmental Minimum Requirements, using the methodology and tests set out in HS2 Planning Forum Note 14: Operational Noise from the Railway and Altered Roads, available here: https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/833184/PFN_14_Operational_Noise.pdf

High Speed 2 Railway Line: Noise

Andrea Leadsom: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, with reference to circumstances where a property was shown as amber for noise levels during the Hybrid Bill Committee stage, and HS2 undertook to provide mitigation to secure that classification, what assessment he has made of the implications for his policies of HS2 not providing that mitigation with the result that the same property enters the red category for noise disruption.

Andrew Stephenson: HS2 Ltd’s civils contractors are updating the predicted noise effects of the scheme, originally published in the Environmental Statement that accompanied the HS2 Phase One hybrid Bill, as part of their design process. This is in order to demonstrate that noise from the operational railway, and from altered roads, has been reduced ‘as far as reasonably practicable,’ in accordance with the HS2 Environmental Minimum Requirements (EMRs). Contractors demonstrate that their mitigation proposals comply with the EMRs using the methodology and tests set out in HS2 Planning Forum Note 14: Operational Noise from the Railway and Altered Roads. HS2 Planning Forum Note 14 provides a framework for considering EMR compliance in situations where there has been a change in the forecast noise levels compared to the Environmental Statement. It is available here: https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/833184/PFN_14_Operational_Noise.pdf

Aviation: Climate Change

Catherine West: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what steps he is taking to reduce domestic air travel in line with the Government's climate change policies.

Robert Courts: Aviation must play its part in delivering the UK’s net zero commitment, but we also need to retain the ability to fly. The aviation sector is vital for the whole of the UK economy in terms of connectivity, direct economic activity, trade, investment and jobs, particularly where viable alternative modes of travel are limited. The Government is already supporting a variety of technology, fuel and market-based measures to address aviation emissions, and we will consult on a Net Zero Aviation Strategy in the coming months, setting out the steps to reach net zero aviation emissions by 2050.

Railways: Fares

Mr Tanmanjeet Singh Dhesi: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what assessment he has made on the economic effect on commuters of the March 2021 increase in rail fares.

Chris Heaton-Harris: In terms of the impact on commuters, the fares increase on 1 March was the lowest for four years. A small rise was necessary to ensure crucial investment in our railways.By delaying the change in fares, those who needed to renew season tickets were able to get a better deal. We also continue to work with industry to develop plans to offer more flexible tickets for commuters and will announce further detail in due course.

Railways: Coronavirus

Mr Tanmanjeet Singh Dhesi: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what discussions he has had with (a) rail operators and (b) Network Rail on preparations for the implementation of the roadmap out of covid-19 lockdown.

Chris Heaton-Harris: The Department and Ministers have regular and frequent discussions with rail operators, Network Rail and other rail industry stakeholders about the implementation of the roadmap. This has included asking Sir Peter Hendy to advise on the preparedness of the public transport network to cope with the re-opening of schools on 8 March 2021.

High Speed 2 Railway Line

Andrea Leadsom: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, when the HS2 Environmental Statement was last updated; and what guidance has been given to contractors to encourage the use of 100 per cent renewable diesel in place of fossil diesel.

Andrew Stephenson: An Environmental Statement is prepared by HS2 Ltd to support each hybrid Bill deposit. Statements were prepared in 2013 and 2017 for Phase One and Phase 2a respectively, to summarise the findings of the Environmental Impact Assessment process. Beyond the point of Royal Assent environmental surveys continue to be undertaken and are used to inform further decisions, requirements and additional mitigations where appropriate. In respect of low carbon fuels, HS2 Ltd sets the toughest standards for both site plant and vehicle engine standards as described in Information Paper E31 and the project closely monitors compliance with these standards held here: https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/672406/E31_-_Air_Quality_v1.5.pdf and here: https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/960731/E14_Air_Quality_v1.3.pdf HS2 Ltd has set a challenging target to reduce carbon during the construction of Phase 1 by 50% and has asked its contractors to develop plans to improve the quality of their supply chain vehicle fleets as these are renewed over the life of their contract, and issued advice to them regarding the suitability and adoption of new vehicle engine types, fuels and related standards, where there is a business case for their adoption. HS2 Ltd and the supply chain remain focused on developing and implementing practical ways to improve impacts on air quality, and alternative fuels are one area of consideration. The HS2 Ltd Air Quality team support project delivery partners by making informed choices based on evidenced market offerings, with a view to ensuring that HS2 Ltd takes an industry lead on this subject.

Cycling and Walking: Urban Areas

Catherine West: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, whether his Department has made an assessment of the potential merits of introducing long-term goals for increasing active travel in urban areas of the UK.

Chris Heaton-Harris: The Prime Minister’s 2020 Cycling and Walking Plan ‘Gear Change’ sets a new vision that cycling and walking will be the natural first choice for many journeys with half of all journeys in towns and cities being cycled or walked by 2030. This vision is complementary to the 2040 ambition contained in the 2017 Statutory Cycling and Walking Investment Strategy, that cycling and walking should be the natural choices for shorter journeys, or as part of a longer journey. The second Cycling and Walking Investment Strategy (CWIS 2) will be published after the Government has agreed and set out its long-term spending plans for active travel at the next multi-year Spending Review. It will reflect and build on the commitments outlined in the Prime Minister’s Cycling and Walking Plan of July 2020, including targets for cycling and walking.

Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy

Chemicals: Exports

Lloyd Russell-Moyle: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, if he will publish the (a) minutes and (b) list of attendees of the Chemicals EU Exit Trade Group on 15 February 2021; and what steps his Department is taking in response to the issues raised by stakeholders at that meeting.

Nadhim Zahawi: Minutes from the Chemicals EU Exit (and Trade) Group (CEEG) are not routinely published. The attendees at the last CEEG held on the 15th February 2021 were:MinisterialKwasi Kwarteng MP, Secretary of State for BEISLord Callanan, Lords Parliamentary Under Secretary, BEIS [Co-Chair]Rebecca Pow MP, Parliamentary Under Secretary of State, DefraMims Davies MP, Minister for Employment, DWP IndustryCalum MacLean – CEO & Group Director, Synthomer [Industry Co-Chair]Steve Elliott – CEO, Chemical Industries Association (CIA)Tom Bowtell – CEO, British Coatings Federation (BCF)Adrian Hanrahan – Managing Director, Robinson BrothersJane Toogood – Sector Chief Executive, Johnson Matthey (JM) Officials Neil Johnson, BEIS, Director, Infrastructure and MaterialsChris Hobley, BEIS, Director, Trade and Investment NegotiationsJo Bray, BEIS, Deputy Director, Chemicals, Bioeconomy & PlasticsSally Randall, DEFRA, Director, Environmental QualityGabrielle Edwards, DEFRA, Deputy Director, Chemicals, Pesticides and Hazardous WasteDr Richard Daniels, HSE, Divisional Director Chemicals Regulation DivisionHarjinder Kang, DIT, Director, Healthcare, Life Sciences & BioeconomySupporting officials from BEIS, DEFRA, HSE and DIT BEIS continues to work closely with industry to understand how it is adapting to the terms of the UK/EU Trade & Cooperation Agreement, and to understand its priorities for new trade deals. Government is also engaging closely with all interested parties on the issues which industry has raised about the impacts of the new regulatory requirements associated with the implementation of UK REACH. In doing so we will take account of the benefits and risks of making any changes to the arrangements that are in place now, including the impact it would have in our commitment to maintaining high standards of protection for public health and the environment. We will also consider the impact on our international obligations.

Additional Restrictions Grant and Wholesale Trade

Dr Julian Lewis: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, what recent assessment he has made of the consistency with which different local authorities award Additional Restrictions Grants to similar companies; and if he will make it his policy to issue guidance to local authorities to give comparable levels of such support to food and drink wholesalers facing comparable financial pressures during the covid-19 outbreak.

Paul Scully: The Additional Restrictions Grant (ARG) allows Local Authorities to put in place discretionary business support. Local Authorities are free to provide support that suits their local area, including to support those businesses not required to close but which have had their trade severely affected by the restrictions, and those businesses that fall outside the business rates system such as market traders. At the Budget on 3rd March, my Rt. Hon. Friend Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer announced an additional £425 million will be made available via the ARG, meaning that more than £2 billion has been made available to Local Authorities since November 2020. The further top-up of 3rd March is conditional on Local Authorities spending their existing allocations. Officials continue to engage with Local Authorities to ensure compliance to both the scheme rules and wider reporting requirements.

Coronavirus: Retail Trade

Zarah Sultana: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, what assessment he has made of the potential merits of allowing access to specialist shoe shops during the covid-19 lockdown restrictions for people who cannot buy those products online.

Paul Scully: The Government has set out its roadmap to cautiously ease lockdown restrictions, including the reopening of non-essential retail no earlier than 12 April, subject to the data. Under current restrictions all shops in England are permitted to operate click-and-collect services online, by telephone/text or via post.

Investment Security Unit

Dr Julian Lewis: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, by what means Parliamentary scrutiny will be carried out of the classified aspects of the work of his Department’s proposed Investment Security Unit.

Paul Scully: The Government intends to follow the appropriate procedures for reporting to Parliament on the work of the Investment Security Unit (ISU), by having the Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy (BEIS) Select Committee oversee the Investment Security Unit’s work. The Committee already provides scrutiny on a number of sensitive areas, such as the civil nuclear programme, and it is well placed to consider how effectively and efficiently the Investment Security Unit is interacting with the business community and investors in delivering the National Security and Investment regime.

Uber: Conditions of Employment

Grahame Morris: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, pursuant to the oral contribution of the Minister for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy of 24 February 2021, Official report, col 939, which stakeholders ACAS conducted its fact-finding exercise with.

Grahame Morris: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, pursuant to the oral contribution of the Minister for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy of 24 February 2021, Official report, col 939, on what date ACAS shared its insights with his Department.

Grahame Morris: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, pursuant to the oral contribution of the Minister for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy of 24 February 2021, Official report, col 939, on what date ACAS shared its insights with his Department.

Grahame Morris: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, pursuant to the oral contribution of the Minister for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy of 24 February 2021, Official report, col 939, when he plans to communicate his Department’s response to the findings by ACAS.

Grahame Morris: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, pursuant to the oral contribution of the Minister for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy of 24 February 2021, Official report, col 939, when he plans to communicate his Department’s response to the findings by ACAS.

Grahame Morris: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, pursuant to the oral contribution of the Parliamentary Under-Secretary for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy of 24 February 2021, Official Report, column 939 on the Supreme Court’s ruling on Uber, if he will place in the Library a copy of the Advisory, Conciliation and Arbitration Service's report to his Department on fire and rehire.

Grahame Morris: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, pursuant to the oral contribution of the Parliamentary Under-Secretary for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy of 24 February 2021, Official Report, column 939 on the Supreme Court’s ruling on Uber, if he will place in the Library a copy of the Advisory, Conciliation and Arbitration Service's report to his Department on fire and rehire.

Paul Scully: Acas engaged with a range of groups, including employer bodies and trade unions, as well as professional bodies with advisory contact with employers, such as employment lawyers, accountants, and payroll services. They shared their findings with BEIS officials on 17 February 2021. Officials are currently considering these findings, and the Government will respond in due course.

Employment: Coronavirus

Alex Norris: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, with reference to the Government's Covid-19 Response: Spring 2021 document, published in February 2021, CP 398, whether office workers and corporate building occupiers are permitted to return to covid-secure physical workspaces under the terms of Step 3 of the roadmap set out in that document.

Paul Scully: People should currently continue to only travel to work if it is not reasonable for them to work from home. On 29 March, the Stay at Home message will be removed. However, people should continue to work from home where they can. We have published COVID-Secure guidance which sets out the steps that businesses should take to keep their staff and customers safe, if they are permitted to open. The Government will update COVID-Secure guidance to provide further advice on how businesses can improve fresh air flow in indoor workplaces and introduce regular testing.

Small Business Grants Fund

Navendu Mishra: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, what plans there are to process applications and payments of Small Business Grants delayed where decisions from the Valuation Office Agency were still outstanding at 30 October 2020.

Paul Scully: The Government has put forward an unprecedented package of support for businesses to help with ongoing business costs in recognition of the disruption caused by Covid-19. This included the Small Business Grants Fund (SBGF), the Retail, Hospitality and Leisure Grants Fund (RHLGF) and the Local Authority Discretionary Grants Fund (LADGF). We asked Local Authorities to close the SBGF, RHLGF and LADGF schemes by 28 August 2020, and to ensure that, where any payments were still in process, they were completed by 30 September. The only exceptions were those relating to a VOA / Ombudsman query in which case payments could be made until 30 October. The schemes are now closed. Local Authorities have also been provided with further funding via the Additional Restrictions Grant (ARG). The ARG is a discretionary scheme which is formula based. Eligibility for the ARG is set locally, and guidance makes clear that Local Authorities may use this funding for grants or for other related business support as they see fit.

Re-employment

Navendu Mishra: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, what the outcome was of the Advisory, Conciliation and Arbitration Service’s investigation into fire and rehire.

Paul Scully: The Department engaged Acas to gather evidence of how fire and rehire is being used. Acas engaged with a range of groups, including employer bodies and trade unions, as well as professional bodies with advisory contact with employers, such as employment lawyers, accountants, and payroll services. Officials are currently considering these findings, and the Government will respond in due course.

Coronavirus: Vaccination

Chi Onwurah: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, what work Admiral Associates has undertaken with the Vaccine Taskforce on helping to ensure that covid-19 vaccines are taken up by hard to reach groups.

Nadhim Zahawi: Early in the existence of the Vaccine Taskforce, public communication on vaccines was identified as a key challenge for the successful delivery of COVID-19 vaccines. The Government strengthened its communication function to support this significant undertaking and communication specialists sourced by Admiral (with experience in clinical trials and of working with the National Institute for Health Research (NIHR)) were brought onboard using the Public Sector Resourcing framework. The communication specialists sourced by Admiral worked with the NIHR to develop the world’s first national citizen registry so that individuals could sign up to participate in clinical vaccine trials. As a result, over 454,000 people have signed up to date. Admiral was also involved in creating a proactive communications programme aimed at encouraging greater sign-up to the registry through the “COVID-19: the search for a vaccine” podcast. This provided a factual transparent source of information on vaccines for UK citizens, combating the anti-vaccination movement, and highlighting the UK's role as a leader in vaccine research and development. The podcast included an episode that specifically covered the need to include people from the Black, Asian and ethnic minority communities in trials and addressed some of the concerns within these communities.

Wind Power: Seas and Oceans

Alex Cunningham: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, what assessment he has made of the effectiveness of the bidding process used by Crown Estate to lease seabed development rights for offshore (a) wind and (b) other renewable energy projects on the UKCS.

Alex Cunningham: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, what advice his Department and its predecessor departments have provided to the Crown Estate on the design of the bidding process used in the Round 4 auction of seabed leasing rights, since the conclusion of Round 3 in 2010.

Alex Cunningham: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, what advice his Department and its predecessor departments have provided to the Crown Estate on the design of the bidding process used in the Round 4 auction of seabed leasing rights, since the conclusion of Round 3 in 2010.

Alex Cunningham: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, what advice (a) his Department and (b) predecessor Departments have provided to Crown Estate on the design of the bidding process used in the Round 4 auction of seabed leasing rights since the conclusion of Round 3 in 2010.

Alex Cunningham: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, what advice (a) his Department and (b) predecessor Departments have provided to Crown Estate on the design of the bidding process used in the Round 4 auction of seabed leasing rights since the conclusion of Round 3 in 2010.

Anne-Marie Trevelyan: As manager of the seabed around England, Wales and Northern Ireland, The Crown Estate is responsible for the award of leases for new and existing offshore wind projects, including the current Round 4 exercise. The Crown Estate works independently of government under the mandate set out in the Crown Estate Act 1961. The Government has not made any assessment on the effectiveness of the bidding process used by Crown Estate to lease seabed development rights for offshore (a) wind and (b) other renewable energy projects on the UKCS. The latest Round 4 seabed leasing round has resulted in six new potential offshore wind projects totalling nearly 8GW. BEIS was not involved in the design of the bidding process for the Round 4 seabed leasing.

Northern Ireland Office

Regional Planning and Development: Northern Ireland

Sir Jeffrey M Donaldson: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, what discussions he has had with (a) Cabinet colleagues and (b) the Northern Ireland Executive on the inclusion of Northern Ireland infrastructure projects for support under the Levelling Up Fund.

Mr Robin Walker: I have held, and will continue to hold, engagements with colleagues across the UK Government, the Northern Ireland Executive and with other stakeholders in Northern Ireland on the Levelling Up Fund. The Levelling Up Fund will invest in local infrastructure that has a visible impact on people and their communities. It will run from 2021/22 to 2024/25, and drive regeneration in places in need. The prospectus for the Levelling Up Fund was published last week and sets out that the Fund will focus on three themes in its first year: smaller transport projects that make a genuine difference to local areas; town centre and high street regeneration; and support for maintaining and expanding the UK’s world-leading portfolio of cultural and heritage assets. The Fund is being delivered as part of a broad package of complementary UK-wide interventions, including the UK Community Renewal Fund and the UK Community Ownership Fund.

Free Zones: Northern Ireland

Sir Jeffrey M Donaldson: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, what discussions he has had with (a) Cabinet colleagues and (b) the Northern Ireland Executive on a freeport designation for Northern Ireland.

Mr Robin Walker: Freeports will be national hubs for international trade, innovation and commerce, regenerating communities across the UK; attracting new businesses, spreading jobs, investment and opportunity to towns and cities across the country. We want to ensure that the whole of the UK can benefit, and we are working with HM Treasury and the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government, as well as working constructively with the Northern Ireland Executive, to establish at least one Freeport in Northern Ireland as soon as possible.

Terrorism: Northern Ireland

Sir Jeffrey M Donaldson: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, what recent progress the Government has been made on bringing forward legislative proposals on legacy issues in Northern Ireland; and if he will make a statement.

Mr Robin Walker: The Government has been clear that it will bring forward legislation to address the legacy of the troubles that focuses on reconciliation, delivers for victims, and ends the cycle of investigations. We continue to engage with victims groups and civic society stakeholders, as well as the Irish Government and Northern Ireland parties in order to find a way forward as soon as possible. We will provide further details in due course.

Department of Health and Social Care

Dental Services: Contracts

Nickie Aiken: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what progress he has made on the contractual requirements for NHS primary dental care from 1 April 2021.

Jo Churchill: The Department of Health and Social Care has indicated that it will not be possible to answer this question within the usual time period. An answer is being prepared and will be provided as soon as it is available.

Dental Services: Coronavirus

Nickie Aiken: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, if he will make an assessment of amending the Units of Dental Activity (UDA) allocation of an urgent band of treatment from 1.2 UDAs to 3 UDAs retrospectively from 1 January 2021 until the end of the covid-19 outbreak to (a) reduce contractual pressures on dentists and (b) take into account the time taken to see urgent patients during the covid-19 outbreak.

Jo Churchill: The Department of Health and Social Care has indicated that it will not be possible to answer this question within the usual time period. An answer is being prepared and will be provided as soon as it is available.

Dental Services: Contracts

Alex Norris: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, whether any dental contract which misses NHS England’s activity targets of 45 per cent as a result of shielding, self isolation or other covid-19 related exceptional circumstances will still receive 100 per cent of their payment for the fourth quarter of the 2020-21 financial year and that they will not be required to make up that activity in the 2021-22 financial year.

Jo Churchill: The Department of Health and Social Care has indicated that it will not be possible to answer this question within the usual time period. An answer is being prepared and will be provided as soon as it is available.

Coronavirus: Schools

Wes Streeting: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what proportion of schools and colleges were provided with covid-19 tests for use on 8 March 2021 in England.

Helen Whately: The Department of Health and Social Care has indicated that it will not be possible to answer this question within the usual time period. An answer is being prepared and will be provided as soon as it is available.

Travel: Quarantine

Caroline Lucas: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, if he will provide a breakdown of the (a) food and (b) other costs covered in the £1,750 hotel quarantine package rate for one adult in one room for 10 days, 11 nights.

Jo Churchill: The Department of Health and Social Care has indicated that it will not be possible to answer this question within the usual time period. An answer is being prepared and will be provided as soon as it is available.

Travel: Quarantine

Caroline Lucas: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, whether the contracts signed with hotel providers for hotel border quarantine included food standards to meet Department of Health and Social Care's recommendations on (a) daily fruit and vegetable intake, (b) other aspects of healthy daily nutrition; what mechanisms are in place to monitor the (i) quality and (ii) timeliness of the food provided; if he will take steps to ensure that the food provided is good quality, nutritious and provided on time; and if he will make a statement.

Jo Churchill: The Department of Health and Social Care has indicated that it will not be possible to answer this question within the usual time period. An answer is being prepared and will be provided as soon as it is available.

Dementia: Social Services

Sir David Amess: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what steps his Department is taking to help ensure that social care needs are met (a) without people losing their family principal private residence when paying for dementia care and (b) when adjusting or supplementing Carer’s Allowance; and what steps he is taking to tackle the disparity between the fees charged by (i) private and (ii) local authority owned care homes.

Helen Whately: The Department of Health and Social Care has indicated that it will not be possible to answer this question within the usual time period. An answer is being prepared and will be provided as soon as it is available.

Coronavirus: Protective Clothing

Dr Philippa Whitford: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, with reference to the guidance, entitled Ventilation of indoor spaces to stop the spread of coronavirus, updated by Public Health England on 4 March 2021, whether the Government plans to revise the guidance on the use of personal protective equipment by health and care staff to require the use of FFP3 masks in all settings.

Jo Churchill: The Department of Health and Social Care has indicated that it will not be possible to answer this question within the usual time period. An answer is being prepared and will be provided as soon as it is available.

Mental Health Services: Children and Young People

Munira Wilson: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what the total spend was by NHS England on children and young people’s mental health services including (a) spending by clinical commissioning groups and (b) spending on Tier 4 services in each of the years 2015-16 to 2020-21; and what the forecast spending is for 2021-22.

Ms Nadine Dorries: The Department of Health and Social Care has indicated that it will not be possible to answer this question within the usual time period. An answer is being prepared and will be provided as soon as it is available.

Gardasil

Sir Jeffrey M Donaldson: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what studies have been undertaken on the (a) side effects of Gardasil used in the HPV Vaccination programme and (b) the long term effect of Gardasil on the health of girls and young women.

Ms Nadine Dorries: The Department of Health and Social Care has indicated that it will not be possible to answer this question within the usual time period. An answer is being prepared and will be provided as soon as it is available.

Cancer: Health Services

Mr Clive Betts: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what proportion of the £1 billion allocation in the 2020 Spending Review for tackling the patient backlog will be allocated to cancer diagnosis, care and treatment.

Jo Churchill: The Department of Health and Social Care has indicated that it will not be possible to answer this question within the usual time period. An answer is being prepared and will be provided as soon as it is available.

Pregnancy Loss Review Group

Tim Loughton: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, when the Pregnancy Loss Review Group last met; and when they plan to publish their report.

Ms Nadine Dorries: The Department of Health and Social Care has indicated that it will not be possible to answer this question within the usual time period. An answer is being prepared and will be provided as soon as it is available.

Coronavirus: Travel

Kerry McCarthy: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, whether someone will be legally permitted to travel abroad to get married under covid restrictions on 1 May 2021.

Ms Nadine Dorries: The Department of Health and Social Care has indicated that it will not be possible to answer this question within the usual time period. An answer is being prepared and will be provided as soon as it is available.

Cancer: Health Services

Mr Clive Betts: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, when the Government next plans to publish details of a NHS multi-year funding plan for workforce and cancer diagnostic equipment.

Edward Argar: The Department of Health and Social Care has indicated that it will not be possible to answer this question within the usual time period. An answer is being prepared and will be provided as soon as it is available.

Mental Health Services: Offenders

Alex Cunningham: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, whether Liaison and Diversion services routinely assess the maturity of defendants aged between 18 and 24 for pre-sentence reports.

Ms Nadine Dorries: The Department of Health and Social Care has indicated that it will not be possible to answer this question within the usual time period. An answer is being prepared and will be provided as soon as it is available.

Coronavirus: Disease Control

Alex Norris: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, when an assessment will have concluded on the effectiveness of the covid-19 vaccine for immunocompromised clinically extremely vulnerable people; and what steps he will take to ensure that those people are not expected to return to work after 31 March 2021 in the event that there is no data on efficacy by that date.

Jo Churchill: The Department of Health and Social Care has indicated that it will not be possible to answer this question within the usual time period. An answer is being prepared and will be provided as soon as it is available.

NHS: Expenditure

Munira Wilson: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what the (a) total spending was in 2020-21 and (b) forecast spending is for 2021-2 for (i) NHS England, (ii) NHS mental health services for all age groups and (iii) NHS children and young people’s mental health services.

Ms Nadine Dorries: The Department of Health and Social Care has indicated that it will not be possible to answer this question within the usual time period. An answer is being prepared and will be provided as soon as it is available.

Coronavirus: Vaccination

Rebecca Long Bailey: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what his policy is on requiring front line NHS staff to be vaccinated against covid-19.

Nadhim Zahawi: The Department of Health and Social Care has indicated that it will not be possible to answer this question within the usual time period. An answer is being prepared and will be provided as soon as it is available.

Coronavirus: Vaccination

Daisy Cooper: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, whether the national NHS vaccination hubs will provide both the (a) Pfizer and (b) AstraZeneca vaccine.

Nadhim Zahawi: Vaccination centres are using both vaccines.

Care Homes: Coronavirus

Tulip Siddiq: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what plans his Department has to ensure that all care home residents receive their first covid-19 vaccination by 24 January 2021.

Nadhim Zahawi: The top four priority groups, which includes people aged 70 years old and over, care home residents and staff, health and care staff and clinically extremely vulnerable patients, have now all been offered the opportunity to be vaccinated.

Coronavirus: Yorkshire and the Humber

Sarah Champion: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, whether a mass vaccination site will open in Yorkshire.

Nadhim Zahawi: There are now over 100 mass vaccination centres across the United Kingdom, including seven in Yorkshire.Information on the location of vaccination sites is available at the following link:https://www.england.nhs.uk/coronavirus/publication/vaccination-sites/

Coronavirus: Vaccination

Ian Byrne: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, with reference to the UK covid-19 Vaccine Delivery Plan published on 11 January 2021, which states that 50 mass vaccination centres will be set up by the end of January in England, when he plans to publish the locations of the 43 sites not named in the plan.

Nadhim Zahawi: As of 20 February, a total of 1,603 vaccination sites have now been established including: - 1,034 local vaccination services;- 195 pharmacies;- 267 hospital hubs; and- 107 large scale vaccination centres. A list of the currently active local vaccination sites is available at the following link: https://www.england.nhs.uk/coronavirus/publication/vaccination-sites/

Care Homes: Coronavirus

Dr Philippa Whitford: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, how many people live in elderly care homes in England; and how many of those people have had the covid-19 vaccine to date.

Nadhim Zahawi: Statistics on the total number of residents and the number vaccinated in elderly care home residents are available at the following link:https://www.england.nhs.uk/statistics/statistical-work-areas/covid-19-vaccinations/

Coronavirus: Vaccination

Afzal Khan: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, how many (a) people over the age of 80 and (b) frontline health and social care staff in Manchester Gorton constituency have received the first dose of a covid-19 vaccine as at 15 January 2021.

Afzal Khan: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, how many (a) people over the age of 80 and (b) frontline health and social care staff in Manchester Gorton constituency have received the second dose of a covid-19 vaccine as at 15 January 2021.

Afzal Khan: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, how many (a) people over the age of 80 and (b) frontline health and social care staff in Manchester Gorton constituency have received the second dose of a covid-19 vaccine as at 15 January 2021.

Nadhim Zahawi: Since 24 December 2020, NHS England and NHS Improvement have published weekly United Kingdom-wide vaccination data. In January 2021, NHS England and NHS Improvement began to publish daily statistics by age and region. Vaccination data is currently available at a national and regional level including by sustainability and transformation partnership, integrated care system, clinical commissioning group, Parliamentary constituency and lower tier local authority.Further data is available via the following links:www.england.nhs.uk/statistics/statistical-work-areas/covid-19-vaccinations/ coronavirus.data.gov.uk/details/vaccinations ww.gov.uk/government/publications/covid-19-vaccine-monitoring-reports

Coronavirus: Vaccination

Hilary Benn: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what steps he is taking to ensure that blind and visually impaired people have access to the information they need on covid-19 vaccination.

Nadhim Zahawi: PHE has published braille and large print versions of COVID-19 vaccination information.The national booking letters are sent in size 16 point font as standard as defined by the RNIB as large print). As well as providing an option to book on the National Health Service website, the national booking letters also provide 119 as an option. Booking information will be available in braille, audio, larger print and easy read soon. This is in addition to what general practitioners and Primary Care Networks are doing locally.

Coronavirus: Vaccination

Caroline Lucas: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what steps he is taking to ensure that information about covid-19 vaccination takes account of the needs of people with sight loss; whether information sent to visually impaired persons is available in an accessible format such as large print and braille; and what steps he has taken to ensure vaccination centres have (a) clear signage, (b) good levels of lighting and (c) trained staff to provide support to people with sight loss; and if he will make a statement.

Nadhim Zahawi: Public Health England has published British Sign Language, braille, and large print versions. The national booking letters are sent in size 16 font as standard, as defined by RNIB as large print. As well as providing an option to book on the NHS website, the booking letters also provide 119 as an option. Booking information will be available in braille, audio, larger print and easy read soon. Vaccination centres are subject to the same standards to support people will accessibility needs including visual impairment as all health care services. This includes ensuring good lighting and clear signage.

Coronavirus: Vaccination

Mr Ben Bradshaw: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, whether there are systems in place in local vaccine centres to inoculate non-priority groups in the event that doses of a vaccine are about to expire but have not yet been administered.

Nadhim Zahawi: No vaccines should be wasted. All vaccination centres should have a backup list people in the cohorts currently being vaccinated, who can be called in case doses would be wasted. If no members of the currently vaccinated cohorts are available, it is recommended that members of the priority cohorts next in line be vaccinated. In the unlikely case the above is not possible, and where the general practice can demonstrate exceptional circumstances showing that it is clinically appropriate and where resources would otherwise have been wasted, then individuals present on site should be vaccinated based on clinical judgement. This is in line with the Enhanced Service Specification for the COVID-19 vaccination programme 2020/21.

Coronavirus: Vaccination

Fleur Anderson: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, if he will publish the scientific basis for including people with severe asthma in the group 6 priority group of the covid-19 vaccine rollout programme.

Nadhim Zahawi: The Joint Committee on Vaccination and Immunisation has concluded that only a subset of those with asthma are at clinically high risk from COVID-19. This group are defined as adults with asthma who require continuous or repeated use of systemic steroids or with previous exacerbations requiring hospital admission and will be vaccinated as part of priority group six. An individual with a more severe case of asthma may have been included in the clinically extremely vulnerable group and would have received a letter from the National Health Service or their general practitioner, in which case they will be vaccinated as part of priority group four.

Coronavirus: Vaccination

Thangam Debbonaire: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what assessment he has made of the potential merits of ensuring that local vaccine centres are able to offer covid-19 vaccines at risk of expiring to non-priority groups.

Nadhim Zahawi: No vaccines should be wasted. All vaccination centres should have a backup list people in the cohorts currently being vaccinated, who can be called in case doses would be wasted. If no members of the currently vaccinated cohorts are available, it is recommended that members of the priority cohorts next in line be vaccinated. In the unlikely case the above is not possible, and where the general practitioner practice can demonstrate exceptional circumstances showing that it is clinically appropriate and where resources would otherwise have been wasted, then individuals present on site should be vaccinated based on clinical judgement. This is in line with the Enhanced Service Specification for the COVID-19 vaccination programme 2020/21.

Coronavirus: Vaccination

Andrew Rosindell: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, whether he has made an assessment of the potential merits of including dental practitioners as frontline health workers for the purposes of prioritisation in the roll out of the covid-19 vaccine.

Nadhim Zahawi: Frontline healthcare staff eligible for prioritisation for the COVID-19 vaccine include those who have frequent face-to-face clinical contact with patients and who are directly involved in patient care in either secondary or primary care/community settings. Doctors, dentists, midwives and nurses, paramedics and ambulance drivers, pharmacists, optometrists, occupational therapists, physiotherapists and radiographers would be included in this group.

Coronavirus: Vaccination

Sir Charles Walker: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what assessment he has made of the potential merits of prioritising (a) paramedics, (b) healthcare professionals and (c) other staff involved in the transporting of covid-19 patients across regions for covid-19 vaccination; and if he will make a statement.

Nadhim Zahawi: All frontline healthcare staff who are eligible for seasonal influenza vaccination should be offered the vaccine in phase one of the COVID-19 vaccination programme, including paramedics, healthcare professionals and staff involved in the transporting of COVID-19 patients.

Coronavirus: Vaccination

Sarah Champion: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, whether his Department plans to publish standard operating procedures for local authorities to (a) identify and (b) log unpaid carers to enable those carers to be vaccinated against covid-19.

Nadhim Zahawi: The Standard Operating Procedure (SOP) for unpaid carers was published on 8 March 2021. The SOP draws on national and local sources for known carers, to help identify and enable them to be invited quickly for a vaccination, as well as making provision for those unpaid carers who may not already be known to the health and social care system to come forward. The SOP is available at the following link: https://www.england.nhs.uk/coronavirus/wp-content/uploads/sites/52/2021/03/C1182-sop-covid-19-vaccine-deployment-programme-unpaid-carers-jcvi-priority-cohort-6.pdf

Autism and Learning Disability

Helen Hayes: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, pursuant to the Answer of 26 February 2021 to Question 151777, whether each individual Transforming Care Partnership has achieved (a) the March 2020 target and (b) the 2024 NHS long term plan targets.

Helen Whately: In total, there are 44 Transforming Care Partnerships. As of the end of January 2021, eight Transforming Care Partnerships were at or below the 2024 Long Term Plan target rate of 30 adults in a mental health inpatient setting per million of the adult population and a further seven were at or below the March 2020 target of 37 per million.

Coronavirus: Contact Tracing

Neil Coyle: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, how his Department monitors how effectively the NHS track and trace system service reaches schoolchildren identified as having covid-19.

Helen Whately: Any positive case identified within the educational setting should reported to the school. The school should then use their risk assessment to identify close contacts of the index case and report cases via the Department for Education’s helpline. Advisors will inform them of any further action that may be required in response to the positive case.

Coronavirus: Screening

Neale Hanvey: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what assessment his Department has made of the implications for its recent policy on mass testing asymptomatic populations and using lateral flow tests for access to care homes of its subsequent advice that swab testing people with no symptoms is not an accurate way of screening the general population, as there is a real risk of giving false reassurance. Widespread asymptomatic testing could undermine the value of testing, as there is a risk of giving misleading results.

Helen Whately: Following the development of approved new technologies, NHS Test and Trace launched small scale pilots to allow more asymptomatic testing in populations where prevalence of COVID-19 was thought to be higher or where individuals are more at risk. Extensive clinical evaluation has been carried out on the lateral flow or swab tests. Evaluations from Public Health England and the University of Oxford show these tests are accurate and sensitive enough to be used in the community for screening and surveillance purposes. While false positives or false negatives can never be completely ruled out, the likelihood of a false positive remains low at approximately four in 1,000 people tested.   Extensive testing has shown lateral flow devices are suitable for use in care homes where they can help to identify people who are the most likely to spread the virus further and therefore support the prevention of transmission of the disease from staff and visitors.

Coronavirus: Disease Control

Mr Steve Baker: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, with reference to the ONS surveys of 30 October and 4 December 2020, whether he has made an assessment of (a) the reasons for the ONS downgrade of its estimate of covid-19 in England from 9.52 per 10,000 on 17 October to 4.89 per 10,000 on 17 October 2020 and (b) the effect of that revision on the Government’s decision to enter into a second national lockdown in November 2020; and what steps the Government is taking to ensure that future covid-19 data published by the ONS will not require significant revision at a later date.

Helen Whately: The Office for National Statistics (ONS) have published an extensive methodology document in relation to their COVID-19 Infection Survey, which states that: “All estimates presented in our bulletins are provisional results. As swabs are not necessarily analysed in date order by the laboratory, we have not yet received test results for all swabs taken on the dates included in this analysis. Estimates may therefore be revised as more test results are included”.  The ONS COVID-19 Infection Survey is one of the many data sources the Scientific Advisory Group for Emergencies include in their scientific advice to Government used to inform decisions on COVID-19 restrictions. Other data sources include the REACT STUDY, Test and Trace data and COVID-19 deaths and hospital admissions. Collectively this data highlighted the need to tighten restrictions in November 2020. The ONS COVID-19 Infection Survey is a pilot study developed at pace to help monitor the situation as it evolves and is therefore undergoing continual quality improvement.

Coronavirus: Screening

Bell Ribeiro-Addy: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what steps he is taking to ensure that private nurseries and early year providers have access to covid-19 testing kits and lateral flow testing kits.

Helen Whately: The Department is continuing to work closely with colleagues across Government and local authorities to secure the most effective approach to asymptomatic testing for the whole of the early years sector. Early years staff, as critical workers, continue to have priority access to polymerase chain reaction testing via the online portal, which is available at the following link:https://www.gov.uk/guidance/coronavirus-covid-19-getting-testedThe Department is having ongoing discussions about providing testing via the education testing programme as well as encouraging local authorities to consider prioritising appropriate testing for staff in private, voluntary and independent settings and childminders via the Community Testing Programme.

Coronavirus: Screening

Chris Grayling: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what arrangements he has put in place for the disposal or recycling of single use plastic swabs being used for covid-19 tests by the NHS.

Helen Whately: Recycling is not currently an option for used plastic swabs and the associated lateral flow device test kit. The preferred waste management route is via energy recovery. However, landfill can be utilised if energy recovery is not available.

Coronavirus: Screening

Ms Harriet Harman: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, how many people identifying as (a) BAME and (b) non-BAME have (i) been tested for coronavirus and (ii) tested positive for coronavirus in (A) Southwark, (B) London and (C) the UK.

Helen Whately: The data is not held in the format requested.

Randox Laboratories: Coronavirus

Rachel Reeves: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what the total value of contracts awarded to Randox in 2020 was to help the Government’s response to covid-19.

Jo Churchill: The total value of contracts awarded to Randox in 2020 was £479.5 million.

NHS Test and Trace

Justin Madders: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, with reference to the report entitled The government’s approach to test and trace in England, interim report, published by the NAO in December 2020, if he will publish the business case submitted to this Department for NHS Test and Trace.

Helen Whately: The Department will not be publishing the internal business case as it relates to the formulation of Government policy.

IQVIA: Redundancy

Mr Kevan Jones: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what assessment he has made of the potential effect of redundancies at Iqvia on the UK's ability to take swab samples for covid-19 testing.

Helen Whately: The COVID-19 Infection Survey is run by the Office for National Statistics (ONS) in collaboration with the Department, the University of Oxford, the University of Manchester, Public Health England, the Wellcome Trust, IQVIA and the UK Biocentre. IQVIA are contracted by the ONS to deliver the required services for the COVID-19 Infection Survey. The ONS will continue to ensure targets for swab tests are reached, as required by the Key Performance Indicators and Service Levels agreed within the ONS/IQVIA contract, and ensure performance maintained at the agreed level for the duration of the contract.

Schools: Coronavirus

Layla Moran: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, how many lateral flow tests have been bought for schools in (a) 2020 and (b) 2021 to date.

Helen Whately: To date the Department has issued at least 32.5 million lateral flow device test kits to secondary schools and colleges and at least 15.6 million kits to primary schools and nurseries.

Coronavirus: Screening

Neil O'Brien: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what proportion of positive covid-19 tests were false positive in the last four weeks.

Helen Whately: We do not hold data in the format requested.

Coronavirus: Mental Health Services

Julian Sturdy: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, if he will enable NHS Test and Trace contact tracers to refer people who are self-isolating to a helpline if they are experiencing mental health difficulties.

Helen Whately: We have no plans to do so.Contact tracers continue to direct individuals to COVID-19 guidance on mental health, their general practitioner or NHS 111 for the appropriate support.

Coronavirus: Screening

Mr Tanmanjeet Singh Dhesi: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, pursuant to the Answer of 20 October 2020 to Question 97002, on Coronavirus: Screening, what assessment has he made as to the effect of not having this data on (a) reducing the transmission of coronavirus, (b) patient care, (c) the effectiveness of the test and trace programme and (d) public confidence in the Government's coronavirus response.

Helen Whately: We have made no such assessment.Those being discharged from hospital following an inpatient admission should be tested if they are being discharged to other care settings, such as care homes or hospices. Patients being discharged to home are not routinely tested unless they are thought to have symptoms appropriate for testing.

Lymphoedema: Medical Treatments

Alberto Costa: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what assessment his Department has made of the potential merits of revising the treatment approach for  lymphedema to help ensure people with that condition can access long term and preventative treatments.

Edward Argar: No specific assessment has been made.

Laboratories: Contracts

Rachael Maskell: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what the planned duration of the contracts with providers will be for each of the megalabs announced by his Department.

Helen Whately: The Leamington Spa laboratory will be run by the Department which will hold supply contracts for resourcing, equipment, machinery, facilities and waste management. These supply contracts will typically run for a 12 month minimum period with potential to extend. We have paused development work on the second laboratory in Scotland until we have further detailed projections on long-term testing demand.

Hospital Beds

Philip Davies: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what steps he is taking to permanently increase bed capacity in the NHS.

Edward Argar: There are currently no plans to permanently increase bed capacity across the National Health Service. However, we continue to work closely with the NHS on capacity planning to ensure we have sufficient beds to meet future demand. Our hospitals continue to flex their bed capacity as part of planning to meet the demand from both elective and emergency streams and we are working hard with trusts to maximise the number of open beds.

Coronavirus: Screening

John Redwood: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, whether the criteria for a positive test for covid-19 has changed.

Helen Whately: There has been no change in the criteria.

Coronavirus: Screening

Sir Alan Campbell: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, whether the Government is planning to introduce a second confirmatory PCR test before defining a positive covid-19 test result as a case as recommended by the WHO guidelines published on 20 January 2021.

Helen Whately: The guidelines published by the World Health Organization were referring to ‘weak positives’ or positive at the limit of detection. In the community, a repeat sample would be requested and self-isolation advised pending the results of the second sample. The majority of positives are clear positives and there is no need for second test confirmation.

Leeds Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust

Hilary Benn: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, whether it is his policy to ensure that the Leeds Teaching Hospital scheme for the new Children's Hospital and Adult building will be completed by 2025.

Edward Argar: A national programme has been established to deliver the Government’s commitment to build 40 new hospitals by 2030. The programme is working collaboratively with the new hospital projects, including advanced schemes like Leeds. Whilst we are unable to comment on individual project timings, which may be subject to change under this programmatic approach, the programme delivery timetable will ensure that all of the new hospitals, including Leeds, are completed by 2030 and drive maximum value for taxpayers’ money.

Parents: Coronavirus

Rachael Maskell: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what assessment he has made of the potential merits of a parental isolation grant for parents who are having to look after a child who is having to isolate during the covid-19 outbreak.

Helen Whately: The Government continues to assess all elements of its COVID-19 response, including the Test and Trace Support Payment scheme. The scheme will continue into the summer and will be expanded to cover parents who are unable to work because they are caring for a child who is self-isolating. The funding made available for local authorities will be increased to £20 million per month. There will also be more funding to help local authorities ensure people self-isolating have access to practical support, such as food deliveries or help with their caring responsibilities and support for wellbeing.

Coronavirus: Learning Disability

Justin Madders: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, how many people with moderate learning disabilities have died of covid-19 since 30 December 2020.

Helen Whately: We do not hold data. NHS England and NHS Improvement publish weekly data about the number of COVID-19 related deaths of people with a learning disability reported to the Learning Disabilities Mortality Review programme by date of death, where COVID-19 is suspected or confirmed as the cause of death. However, this data does not identify the ‘severity’ of learning disability.

Coronavirus: Screening

Justin Madders: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, pursuant to the Answer of 18 February 2021 to Question 86684 on Coronavirus: Screening, if she will publish data on the number of covid-19 tests that have been sent overseas for processing in each of the last 12 months.

Helen Whately: The information is not currently held in the format requested.

Hospitals: Coronavirus

Emma Hardy: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, when people will be able to visit family members in hospital as covid-19 restrictions are eased; and if he will publish guidance on those visits.

Edward Argar: The current hospital visiting guidance, last updated on 13 October 2020, allows people to visit their family members in hospital in a COVID-19 secure way. This guidance is published at the following link: https://www.england.nhs.uk/coronavirus/publication/visitor-guidance/ NHS England and NHS Improvement are in the process of updating this guidance and a revised version will be published in due course.

Learning Disability: General Practitioners

Christian Matheson: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what estimate he has made of the number of adults with learning disabilities who are not identified as having that disability on the GP register.

Helen Whately: We have not made a formal estimate.

Members: Correspondence

Robert Largan: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, when he plans to respond to the enquiry from the hon. Member for High Peak of 24 November 2020, reference RL15578.

Edward Argar: We replied to the hon. Member on 10 March 2021.

Social Services: Finance

Stuart Anderson: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what his timeframe is for bringing forward legislative proposals to reform the funding of adult social care.

Helen Whately: We are committed to bringing forward a proposal for social care this year to ensure that everyone is treated with dignity and respect and to find long term solutions for one of the biggest challenges we face as a society.

Coronavirus: Vaccination

Marco Longhi: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what plans he has to prioritise people in (a) care homes and (b) BAME communities in the roll of a covid vaccine.

Jo Churchill: The Joint Committee on Vaccination and Immunisation (JCVI) are the independent experts who advise the Government on which vaccine/s the United Kingdom should use and provide advice on prioritisation at a population level. The JCVI have advised that the first priorities for any COVID-19 vaccination programme should be the prevention of COVID-19 mortality and the protection of health and social care staff and systems. For the first phase, the JCVI have advised that the vaccine be given to care home residents and staff, as well as frontline health and social care workers, then to the rest of the population in order of age and clinical risk factors. Included in this are those with underlying health conditions, including severe and profound learning disability, which put them at higher risk of serious disease and mortality. There is clear evidence that certain black, Asian and minority ethnic (BAME) groups have higher rates of infection, and higher rates of serious disease and mortality. The reasons are multiple and complex.  There is no strong evidence that ethnicity by itself or genetics is the sole explanation for observed differences in rates of severe illness and deaths. What is clear is that certain health conditions are associated with increased risk of serious disease, and these health conditions are often overrepresented in certain BAME groups.  Prioritisation of people with underlying health conditions will also provide for greater vaccination of BAME communities who are disproportionately affected by such health conditions.

Mental Health: Discrimination

Dr Rosena Allin-Khan: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what progress his Department has made on tackling mental health stigma and discrimination following its announcement in October 2020 that it will stop funding Time to Change on 31 March 2021.

Ms Nadine Dorries: The Department is working with Time to Change on developing regional community-led hubs to secure its legacy. More widely, we are ensuring that work to address mental health inequalities, stigma and discrimination remains a priority across Government. Every Government department, as well as major corporations, has made a Time to Change Pledge to continue challenging mental health stigma and the inequalities experienced by people with mental illness.

Coronavirus: Vaccination

Bambos Charalambous: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what assessment his Department has made of the effectiveness of the Pfizer BioNTech covid-19 vaccine when there is a 12-week gap between the first and second dose for those aged over 80; and what evidence that assessment is based on.

Nadhim Zahawi: Public Health England is monitoring the effectiveness of the COVID-19 vaccines and has published early evidence on the efficacy of both the Pfizer/BioNTech and Oxford/Astrazeneca vaccines. The evidence suggests that a single dose of either vaccine is around 60 to 70% effective at preventing symptomatic disease in older adults and around 80% effective at preventing hospitalisations. There is also evidence that a single dose of the Pfizer/BioNTech vaccine is around 85% effective at preventing deaths. Further information is available at the following link: https://www.medrxiv.org/content/10.1101/2021.03.01.21252652v1 Effectiveness of two doses with a 12-week gap will be monitored as more individuals start to receive their second dose.

Travel: Quarantine

Theresa Villiers: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, whether there are any exemptions from hotel quarantine requirements for people with mental health conditions.

Jo Churchill: There are very limited exemptions to the requirement to book and enter managed quarantine if a person has been in a ‘red list’ country at any point in the 10 days prior to their arrival into England. These exemptions are available at the following link:https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/coronavirus-covid-19-travellers-exempt-from-uk-border-rulesIf someone has concerns about being in a quarantine hotel on health or wellbeing grounds, they can seek an assessment by a medical professional after check-in.

Travel: Quarantine

Dame Diana Johnson: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, for what reasons the hotel covid-19 quarantine policy only applies to people travelling from 33 countries.

Jo Churchill: The managed quarantine measures apply to people travelling from the 33 ‘red list’ countries as these countries are judged to pose a risk to the United Kingdom from variants of concern and inbound international travel. The decision to add and remove countries from the red list is informed by the latest scientific data and public health advice from a world-leading range of experts.The list of red list countries is kept consistently under review.

Travel: Quarantine

Caroline Lucas: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what steps he has taken to ensure people arriving in the UK from red list countries are not mixing with people arriving from other countries (a) as they queue for and clear passport control and (b) elsewhere in UK airports.

Jo Churchill: We have worked closely with airports to ensure the arrangements made to deal with arrivals are appropriate at each site where the managed quarantine service is operating. For those arriving at a designated port, we have introduced special measures including separating arrivals from ‘red list’ locations in the arrivals hall. Should this not be possible for any reason, strict social distancing measures must still be adhered to throughout the airport. Red list arrivals are met by security officials and escorted to baggage reclaim, before taking pre-booked transportation to their quarantine hotel.

Travel: Quarantine

Owen Thompson: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what steps the Government plans to take to determine the appropriateness of hotels for use as Managed Quarantine Facilities.

Jo Churchill: We are working closely with the hospitality sector providing the quarantine accommodation and continue to monitor the operation of the managed quarantine scheme to ensure it remains appropriate and can meet future demand.

Travel: Quarantine

Stephen Morgan: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what support he is providing to people who need to return to the UK from a country on the travel ban list and who cannot afford the £1750 quarantine package.

Jo Churchill: For those facing significant financial hardship as a result of this charge, there will be an opportunity to apply for a deferred repayment plan when booking. This is available if they are already receiving income-related benefits and they will be required to pay back the charge in 12 monthly instalments.

Travel: Quarantine

Theresa Villiers: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, whether there are any exemptions from hotel quarantine requirements for frail elderly people who need social care support.

Jo Churchill: There are very limited exemptions to the requirement to book and enter managed quarantine if a person has been in a ‘red list’ country at any point in the 10 days prior to their arrival into England. These exemptions are set out on GOV.UK at the following link:https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/coronavirus-covid-19-travellers-exempt-from-uk-border-rules/coronavirus-covid-19-travellers-exempt-from-uk-border-rulesThose with concerns about being in a quarantine hotel on health or wellbeing grounds, can seek an assessment by a medical professional after check-in. People needing to be exempted from managed quarantine on medical grounds are assessed on a case by case basis, from a clinical assessment.

Travel: Quarantine

Rachel Reeves: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, which companies are involved in each element of the mandatory border quarantine scheme.

Jo Churchill: We have contracted with (Corporate Travel Management) to provide hotels and transport. The security providers are G4S, Mitie and Corps Security.

Coronavirus: Vaccination

Justin Madders: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, pursuant to the Answer of 3 March 2021 to Question 148827 on Coronavirus: Vaccination, what estimate he has made of the number of patients who have been admitted to hospital with covid-19 since 1 January 2021 having received (a) one dose and (b) two doses of the (i) AstraZeneca and (ii) Pfizer vaccines.

Edward Argar: Public Health England has made no such estimate.

Department of Health and Social Care: Written Questions

Martyn Day: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, when he plans to respond to Question 134504, on Coronavirus: Vaccination, tabled on 8 January 2021 by the hon. Member for Linlithgow and East Falkirk.

Edward Argar: We take parliamentary scrutiny incredibly seriously and it is fundamentally important that hon. Members are provided with accurate and timely information to enable them to hold the Government to account. We are working rapidly to provide all Members with accurate answers to their questions, as well as supporting the Government’s response to the unprecedented challenge of the COVID-19 pandemic. The hon. Member’s question will be answered as soon as possible.

Department of Health and Social Care: Written Questions

Justin Madders: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, when he plans to answer Question 118537 tabled by the hon. Member for Ellesmere Port and Neston on 20 November 2020.

Edward Argar: I refer the hon. Member to the answer we gave to Question 118537 on 9 March.

Hospitals: Fire Prevention

Justin Madders: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, pursuant to the answer of 6 January 2021 to Question 110152, on Hospitals: Fire Prevention, what assessment he has made of the (a) fire safety defects and (b) cost of repair for the nine NHS buildings identified with Aluminium Cladded Material (ACM).

Edward Argar: Of the nine National Health Service buildings that were identified to potentially have Aluminium Cladded Material (ACM), it was found that one did not have ACM, four have had their ACM removed, two sites are currently in the process of removing their cladding and one has some ACM remaining but due to how the building is used the local Fire and Rescue Services (FRS) have agreed it can remain. The assessment of the potential fire safety defects of the remaining building is currently being finalised with the local FRS.The Department has committed £10 million to deliver the removal and replacement of ACM across the NHS. To date, capital funding has been provided to all NHS trusts with ACM to pay for its removal, totalling £6.24 million.

Youth Services: Mental Health Services

Caroline Lucas: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what plans his Department has to increase early mental health support for young people in community settings; if he will make it his policy to deliver a network of open-access drop-in mental health hubs for young people up to age 25 with low-level mental health needs delivered through the NHS in partnership with local authorities, the voluntary sector and digital providers; and if he will make a statement.

Ms Nadine Dorries: There are currently no plans to deliver such a network of hubs nationally. Plans for such interventions are for local commissioning and clinical determination. However, we are committed to implementing the proposals in the children and young people’s mental health Green Paper, including mental health support teams (MHSTs) in schools and colleges. By 2023/24, at least an additional 345,000 children and young people aged 0-25 years old will be able to access National Health Service funded mental health services and school or college-based MHSTs. MHSTs will provide a core offer of evidence-based mental health support, but clinical commissioning groups will have flexibility to design teams according to local need and existing provision. We expect them to do so in partnership with schools and colleges, local authorities and other local bodies.

Coronavirus: Screening

Bambos Charalambous: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what assessment his Department has made of the cost of covid-19 testing for people who are required to travel regularly to visit relatives in Europe.

Jo Churchill: People should be staying at home unless they have a valid reason to travel. For those facing significant financial hardship as a result of the testing charge, there will be an opportunity to apply for a deferred repayment plan when booking. This is available for individuals who receive income-related benefits and they will be required to pay back the charge in 12 monthly instalments. All of these measures will be kept under constant review, including the impact on individuals with family ties in other countries.

Coronavirus: Vaccination

Alexander Stafford: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, when the medical trials testing the efficacy and safety of the covid-19 vaccine in children and teenagers are planned to report their results.

Nadhim Zahawi: Through the joint call for COVID-19 research from the National Institute for Health Research and UK Research and Innovation, we have awarded over £2 million towards ‘nCoV: Rapid Clinical Development of ChAdOx1 nCoV-19’. This research project aims to demonstrate vaccine safety and immunogenicity in adults, older adults, and children, and is scheduled to finish in September 2021. A phase II study to determine safety and immunogenicity in 300 children and adolescents aged between 6 and 17 years old was also approved as a priority Urgent Public Health COVID-19 study in February 2021 and is due to finish in May 2021.The Joint Committee on Vaccination and Immunisation (JCVI) continues to review the data on COVID-19 vaccines. Once data on the safety and efficacy of COVID-19 vaccines in adolescents and younger children becomes available, these will be considered by the JCVI to inform deliberations on vaccination in these age groups.

Coronavirus: Vaccination

Kim Johnson: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, whether it is his policy that people living with ME/CFS can be included in Priority Group 6 for COVID-19 vaccinations in the context of that condition being classified as a neurological disease by NHS England.

Nadhim Zahawi: The Joint Committee on Vaccination and Immunisation has not identified any robust data to indicate that, as a group, persons with myalgic encephalomyelitis/chronic fatigue syndrome are at higher risk of dying from COVID-19. Therefore this group is not included as part of the prioritisation for phase one of the programme.

Epilepsy: Pregnancy

Rosie Duffield: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what plans his Department has to (a) collect and (b) disseminate data on individual women who have been prescribed anti-epileptic drugs to enable investigation into the reasons for the teratogenicity of valproate and other epilepsy medication.

Ms Nadine Dorries: The Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency and NHS Digital have been working to build a Registry to monitor the use of valproate and compliance with the current regulatory position and to monitor any children born to women on valproate. The Registry is being built around routinely collected data on all women in England who are taking National Health Service-prescribed valproate and identifies when they are pregnant and accessing NHS care for that pregnancy. Work is now ongoing to extend the Registry to include women in the devolved administrations. The Registry will also be extended to include all girls and women prescribed an antiepileptic drug. This has been prioritised within the next phase of development. Once available, this data will be accessible to support additional research.

Epilepsy: Pregnancy

Rosie Duffield: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what additional steps have been taken to ensure that medical professionals are equipped to provide awareness of the risk of physical and neurodevelopmental harm to a baby associated with the use of many anti-epileptic drugs taken in pregnancy, specifically when providing such information via digital consultations and telemedicine.

Ms Nadine Dorries: The Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA) ensures that information is available electronically to support discussions between medical professionals and women and girls on the risk of physical and neurodevelopmental harm to babies born to mothers who take epilepsy medicines during pregnancy. Healthcare professionals have been reminded of their responsibility to inform women and girls of the risks of valproate specifically through letters from the United Kingdom’s Chief Medical Officers and Chief Pharmaceutical Officers and by articles in the MHRA’s electronic bulletin Drug Safety Update.On 6 May 2020 the MHRA published guidance for specialists to support adherence to the pregnancy prevention requirements for women of childbearing potential taking valproate during the pandemic, particularly patients who are shielding due to other health conditions. This included guidance on annual review of patients using digital consultations.

Eating Disorders: Children and Young People

Scott Benton: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, with reference to the Access and Waiting Time Standard for Children and Young People with an Eating Disorder, what steps his Department is taking to ensure that those standards are being met in each region in England.

Ms Nadine Dorries: NHS England and NHS Improvement are working with regional teams as well as community eating disorder services and commissioners to manage demand and support teams. The data shows that community eating disorder services continue to expand access to treatment to increasing number of children and young people and their families.On 5 March 2021, we announced £79 million of funding for to expand mental health support for children and young people in 2021/22. This includes funding to treat an additional 2,000 children and young people with eating disorders. This is in addition to the new early intervention services to open in 18 sites across the country for 16 to 25 year olds, announced in November 2020.

Mental Health Services: Coronavirus

Nadia Whittome: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what steps his Department is taking to support the mental health needs of people who have lost a loved one due to covid-19.

Ms Nadine Dorries: Since March 2020, the Government has given over £10.2 million to mental health charities, including bereavement support charities, to support adults and children struggling with their mental wellbeing due to the impact of COVID-19. This includes funding for bereavement support helplines, counselling and signposting services to ensure that grieving families and individuals who have lost loved ones have access to the bereavement support they need, when they need it. We continue to take a cross-Government approach to assess what is needed to provide support to bereaved families and individuals.

Epilepsy: Pregnancy

Cat Smith: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what plans he has for extending the MHRA and NHS Digital Medicines in Pregnancy Valproate Registry to include all anti-epileptic drugs.

Cat Smith: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, with reference to the Commission on Human Medicines report, Epilepsy Medicines in Pregnancy, published  on 7 January 2021, what plans he has to ensure greater awareness among health professionals of the risk of physical and neurodevelopmental harm associated with the use of many anti-epileptic drugs taken in pregnancy.

Ms Nadine Dorries: The Registry is being built around routinely collected data of all women in England who are taking National Health Service-prescribed valproate and identifies when they are pregnant and accessing NHS care for that pregnancy. Work is now ongoing to extend the Registry to include women in the devolved administrations. In the next phase of development, the Registry will be extended to include all girls and women prescribed an antiepileptic drug.The conclusions of the Commission on Human Medicines’ safety review of the risk of physical and neurodevelopmental harm in children of mothers who took epilepsy medicines in pregnancy were communicated publicly to support decisions around the best treatment options for girls and women. These communications were via the Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency’s (MHRA) Drug Safety Update bulletin, an accompanying public assessment report and a patient safety leaflet. A news release and social media accompanied the publication alongside email alerts that targeted relevant healthcare professionals, prescribing publications and professional organisations. The MHRA is also working with the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence, the Royal College of General Practitioners and the Association of British Neurologists to update relevant clinical guidance to reflect the findings of the review. The impact of this review and the uptake of communications will be monitored.

Mental Health Services: Finance

Daniel Zeichner: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, when he plans to provide further details regarding allocation of the £500 million of additional funding for mental health services in 2021-22 announced in the Spending Review 2020.

Ms Nadine Dorries: An announcement is expected to be made imminently giving further details about how this will be spent.

Infected Blood Inquiry

Dame Diana Johnson: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, when the Government plans to announce what progress has been made with the compensation framework review in relation to the contaminated blood inquiry.

Ms Nadine Dorries: The Government remains committed to considering a potential framework for compensation, as well as actions to address disparities in financial and non-financial support for people infected and affected across the United Kingdom.Officials at the Cabinet Office are working with colleagues in HM Treasury, the Department of Health and Social Care and health departments in the devolved administrations on this review.

Coronavirus: Vaccination

Alexander Stafford: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what guidance has been issued to clinicians to enable them to prescribe covid-19 vaccine to clinically extremely vulnerable children under the age of 16.

Alexander Stafford: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what guidance has been issued to clinicians to enable them to prescribe the covid-19 vaccine to children under the age of 16 who suffer from cystic fibrosis.

Nadhim Zahawi: The Joint Committee on Vaccination and Immunisation (JCVI) currently advises that only those children at very high risk of exposure and serious outcomes, such as older children with severe neuro-disabilities that require residential care, should be offered vaccination with either of the two currently available vaccines. The JCVI considers that there is not usually a good case for immunisation as there is very limited safety data on vaccination in adolescents, and almost no data on vaccination in younger children so far. Following infection, almost all children will have asymptomatic infection or mild disease.The clinicians are advised to discuss the risks and benefits of vaccination with a person with parental responsibility. However, the matter of whether to vaccinate a child should ultimately be a decision to be made by the physician responsible for the patient.

Independent Medicines and Medical Devices Safety Review

Cat Smith: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what criteria were used to determine the membership of the Patient Reference Group that will consider the recommendations in the report of the Independent Medicines and Medical Devices Safety Review.

Ms Nadine Dorries: The criteria for membership was set out in a recruitment pack made available to all applicants and included:- Have a personal experience or understand the context of the Review and the content of the report from the perspective of patients, carers or families;- Are committed to improving the experience of patients;- Want to engage with others on the group and representatives of the Department to support the implementation of the Review;- Can consider complex and emotive issues in a balanced and sensitive way; and- Have good communication skills and want to build strong working relationships with the rest of the group.

Coronavirus: Health Professions

Alex Norris: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what steps his Department is taking to help ensure that clinicians are not subject to (a) legal and (b) regulatory action for work outside their usual area of expertise during the covid-19 outbreak.

Ms Nadine Dorries: In April 2020, the Department wrote to National Health Service staff to reassure them that state indemnity for clinical negligence is in place to cover their work on the COVID-19 response. The Department has also worked with the NHS, healthcare regulatory bodies and the Ministry of Justice to ensure that complaints processes, investigations and legal claims do not place an undue burden on staff or detract from responding to the pandemic.In March 2020, the healthcare regulatory bodies issued a joint statement recognising that professionals may need to depart from established procedures in order to care for patients and people using health and social care services. This made clear that they would take into account COVID-19 factors when assessing concerns about professionals. These principles were re-affirmed in a further joint statement issued in January 2021.

Surgical Mesh Implants

Emma Hardy: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, pursuant to his Answer of 2 March 2021 to Question 156529, on Surgical Mesh Implants, whether he has plans to make an assessment of the reason for the discrepancy between the proportion of patients readmitted within 30 days of (a) transvaginal tape and (b) transobturator tape procedures contained in the Hospital Episode Statistics and the British Society of Urogynaecology databases, as highlighted in the Royal College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists' Project Report, Hospital Episode Statistics as a source of information on safety and quality in gynaecology to support revalidation, published in May 2012.

Ms Nadine Dorries: There are currently no plans to make an assessment.

Department for Education

Students: Coronavirus

Ms Lyn Brown: To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what assessment he has made of the potential effect of paying for student accommodation that is unoccupied during the covid-19 outbreak on the finances of deprived families.

Ms Lyn Brown: To ask the Secretary of State for Education, if he will make an assessment of the potential effect of the payment of fees for university accommodation that is unoccupied during the covid-19 outbreak on (a) families on low incomes and (b) single parent families.

Ms Lyn Brown: To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what support is available for families that are paying for student accommodation that is unoccupied due to the covid-19 outbreak.

Michelle Donelan: This has been a very difficult time for students, and we welcome the decision from many universities and accommodation providers to offer rent rebates for students who need to stay away from their term-time address. The government urges universities and private landlords to review their accommodation policies to ensure they are fair, clear and have the interests of students at heart.The government has been clear in published guidance that tenants should continue to pay rent and abide by all other terms of their tenancy agreement to the best of their ability. Where they can pay the rent as normal, they should do so. Tenants who are unable to do so should speak to their landlord at the earliest opportunity.This guidance is available to view at: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/covid-19-and-renting-guidance-for-landlords-tenants-and-local-authorities.If students have concerns about their accommodation fees, they should first raise their concerns with their accommodation provider. If their concerns remain unresolved, and their higher education provider is involved in the provision of the accommodation, students at providers in England or Wales can ask the Office of the Independent Adjudicator (OIA) for Higher Education to consider their complaint.If a student thinks their accommodation provider is treating them unfairly, they can raise a complaint under the accommodation codes of practice as long as their provider is a code member. The codes can be found at: https://www.thesac.org.uk/, https://www.unipol.org.uk/the-code/how-to-complain and https://www.rla.org.uk/about/nrla-code-of-practice.shtmlWe recognise that in these exceptional circumstances some students may face financial hardship. The Department for Education has worked with the Office for Students (OfS) to clarify that providers are able to use existing funds, worth around £256 million for academic year 2020/21, towards hardship support. We have also made an additional £70 million of student hardship funding available to higher education providers this financial year.Providers will have flexibility in how they distribute the funding to students, in a way that will best prioritise those in greatest need. Support might include help for students facing additional costs arising from having to maintain accommodation in more than one location. I also made clear in my 2 February 2021 guidance to the OfS that the funding should be available to help students that have already applied for hardship funding previously but now need additional support. The funding can be distributed to a wide population of students, including postgraduates (whether taught or research) and international students. We will continue to monitor the situation to look at what impact this funding is having.Students will normally qualify for Child Benefit if they are responsible for a child under 16 (or under 20 if they stay in approved education or training). Full-time students with children can also apply for Childcare Grant and Parents' Learning Allowance. Full-time students who are single parents or student couples, one or both of whom are responsible for a child, and part-time students responsible for a child can apply for Universal Credit.

Schools: Coronavirus

Olivia Blake: To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what steps he will take to monitor the extent to which the exemptions allowing the removal of face coverings when speaking to someone who relies on lip reading, clear sound or facial expressions are being utilised in classrooms when schools return on 8 March 2021.

Olivia Blake: To ask the Secretary of State for Education, whether it is his policy that, in an educational setting, when speaking to someone who relies on lip reading, clear sound or facial expressions, wearing face shields or visors may be more effective in preventing the spread of covid-19 than not wearing any face covering.

Olivia Blake: To ask the Secretary of State for Education, with reference to the pilot scheme on the use transparent facemasks, what advice based on the findings of that scheme has been shared with his Department on the use of transparent facemasks outside of health and social care systems.

Nick Gibb: The Department continues to work closely with other Government departments throughout its response to the COVID-19 outbreak, including Public Health England (PHE) and the Department of Health and Social Care, as well as stakeholders across the sector. The Department is continuing to work to ensure that our policy is based on the latest scientific and medical advice, in order to develop comprehensive guidance based on the PHE-endorsed ‘system of controls’ and to understand the effect of these measures on staff, pupils and parents.The Department recently published updated guidance for schools to support the return to full attendance from 8 March, which includes updated advice on face coverings. The guidance can be found here: https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/964351/Schools_coronavirus_operational_guidance.pdf.As the guidance outlines, where pupils in Year 7 and above are educated, the Department recommends that face coverings should be worn by adults and pupils when moving around outside of classrooms, such as in corridors and communal areas where social distancing cannot easily be maintained.From 8 March, the Department recommends that in schools and colleges where pupils in Year 7 and above are educated, face coverings should be worn in classrooms unless social distancing can be maintained. The Department is recommending these additional precautionary measures for a for a time limited period until Easter. As with all measures, they will be under review and guidance will be updated, as necessary.Some individuals are exempt from wearing face coverings. This includes people who cannot put on, wear or remove a face covering because of a physical or mental illness or impairment, or disability, or if you are speaking to or providing assistance to someone who relies on lip reading, clear sound or facial expressions to communicate. The same legal exemptions that apply to the wearing of face coverings in shops and on public transport also apply in schools and colleges.Individuals working with someone who relies on lip reading, clear sound or facial expressions to communicate are exempt from wearing a face covering in settings where they are normally required.Transparent face coverings, which may assist communication with someone who relies on lip reading, clear sound or facial expression to communicate, can also be worn. There is currently very limited evidence regarding the effectiveness or safety of transparent face coverings, but they may be effective in reducing the spread of COVID-19.NHS England and NHS Improvement are exploring the use of transparent type IIR masks within clinical settings. As part of this work, a trusted group of stakeholders within the special educational needs and disability sector, with a clinical need for a transparent type IIR masks, will be asked to provide feedback on a selection of products.

National Tutoring Programme

Wes Streeting: To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what estimate he has made of the number of pupils who will be taught under the National Tutoring Programme; and if he will publish that data by (a) constituency and (b) local authority.

Nick Gibb: The National Tutoring Programme (NTP) provides additional, targeted support to disadvantaged pupils by providing schools with access to high quality, subsidised tuition from a selection of approved Tuition Partners.In the academic year 2020/21, we expect that 250,000 pupils will be provided with tuition from NTP Tuition Partners. We are working to ensure that there is a high level of awareness amongst schools of the support available, particularly in areas with high numbers of disadvantaged pupils. The NTP is led by demand from schools; we do not estimate the number of pupils that will be taught under NTP at constituency and local authority level.In February 2021, we launched a tendering process to secure a NTP delivery partner to provide a further year of NTP support, which we expect to support approximately 750,000 pupils through the NTP in academic year 2021/22.

Pupils: Coronavirus

Fiona Bruce: To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what provision is being made for unaccompanied children who need to return to the UK and quarantine in order to return to school.

Nick Gibb: Unaccompanied children arriving in the UK to attend a day school must quarantine in accordance with the requirements for other people arriving in the UK. For those arriving from non ‘red list’ countries, this will normally require them to quarantine with their family or guardians. Unaccompanied children arriving from ‘red list’ countries who are not boarding school pupils will need to meet a family member who can quarantine with them in a managed quarantine facility on arrival.Arrangements for the quarantine of international boarders attending schools in England should be in place before boarding school pupils’ travel.Arrangements for boarders arriving from non ‘red list’ countries are laid out in ‘Schools coronavirus (COVID-19) operational guidance’ published by the Department. This guidance is available here: https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/964351/Schools_coronavirus_operational_guidance.pdf.Arrangements for boarders that meet the relevant UK entry requirements and will arrive from ‘red list’ countries, or having travelled through a ‘red list’ country in the 10 days prior to arrival, must be in line with the guidance available at: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/quarantine-arrangements-for-boarding-school-students-from-red-list-countries. In line with the guidance, boarding school pupils must quarantine within accommodation provided for or arranged by their boarding school.

Special Educational Needs: Autism

Tracy Brabin: To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what assessment he has made of the adequacy of the availability of mainstream school places for children with autism in (a) Batley and Spen constituency, (b) Kirklees, (c) West Yorkshire and (d) England.

Vicky Ford: The majority of children with autism are educated in mainstream settings. Of those children identified with a primary need of autistic spectrum disorder as either requiring special educational needs support (67,867 children) or who have an education, health and care plan (82,847 children), 108,481 are currently educated in mainstream settings in England. This trend is replicated in the Kirklees local authority area, where 328 of 474 children with a primary need of autism are in mainstream settings, and in the Batley and Spen constituency, where the numbers are 75 out of 79 children. [1]The statutory duty to provide sufficient school places, including for those with special educational needs and disabilities (SEND), sits with local authorities. We provide funding for all of the places that are needed, based on local authorities’ own data. This is why we have announced nearly £500 million to provide places needed for 2023. This funding is on top of over £8.1 billion to provide places needed from 2015 to 2022 and our investment in the free schools programme.Published data on school capacity estimates that, as at May 2019, Kirklees still needed to provide a further 300 places by September 2021. Funding is allocated at local authority level and cannot be broken down further. Kirklees has been allocated £53.2 million to provide new school places since 2010.Under the SEND Code of Practice 2015, all mainstream schools are under a duty to use their best endeavours to support children with special educational needs (whether or not the child has an education, health and care plan). The Children and Families Act 2014 requires local authorities to keep the provision for children and young people with SEND under review (including its sufficiency), working with parents, young people, and providers.[1] https://explore-education-statistics.service.gov.uk/find-statistics/special-educational-needs-in-england

Special Educational Needs: Autism

Tracy Brabin: To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what assessment has he made of the adequacy of the availability of options at GCSE level for children with autism in (a) Batley and Spen constituency, (b) Kirklees, (c) West Yorkshire and (d) England.

Nick Gibb: During the GCSE reform process from 2011, the Department consulted extensively with schools, colleges and universities, and employers on both the principles for reform and the detail of the content of individual subjects. As part of this, we also carefully considered the effect of the reforms on pupils with special educational needs and disabilities and published Equalities Impact Assessments for all subjects.In addition to this, examination boards have a duty, under the Equality Act 2010, to make reasonable adjustments for pupils with disabilities who, because of their disability, would otherwise be at a substantial disadvantage when demonstrating their skills, knowledge and understanding. These adjustments are made to remove or reduce disadvantages that such students face compared with students who are not disabled.Whilst decisions on what GCSEs to offer at a local level are for individual schools to take, all state funded schools have a statutory duty to provide a broad and balanced curriculum, and this is replicated in academy funding agreements.

Children's Centres: Closures

Tulip Siddiq: To ask the Secretary of State for Education, how many (a) children’s centres and (b) children’s centre linked sites have closed in each local authority area in each year since 2009-10.

Tulip Siddiq: To ask the Secretary of State for Education, whether his Department includes family hubs in its definition of children’s centres for the purpose of data collection.

Tulip Siddiq: To ask the Secretary of State for Education, in what year the first children’s centre was converted into a children’s centre linked site.

Vicky Ford: The attached table shows the number of children’s centres and children’s centre linked sites that have closed in each local authority each year since 2009-10.[1] [2]The legal definition of a children’s centre is set out in Part 1 of the Childcare Act 2006, which can be accessed here: https://www.legislation.gov.uk/ukpga/2006/21/part/1 and in the underpinning statutory guidance, which can be accessed here: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/sure-start-childrens-centres. It is up to a local authority to decide whether a centre (whether it is branded as a family hub, a children’s centre, or uses another name) should be counted as a children’s centre for data collection purposes, based on its interpretation of this definition.The government does not hold information on the date a children’s centre converts to a children’s centre linked site.[1] Source: This is based on information supplied by local authorities to Get Information about Schools (GIAS) database https://www.get-information-schools.service.gov.uk and internal management information held by the department on historical children’s centre closure dates as of 9 March 2021. These figures may be different to previous answers, and could change again in future, since local authorities may update their data at any time. The GIAS collects data on children’s centres that local authorities have closed on a permanent basis. It does not collect data on children’s centres that local authorities may have closed temporarily in response to the COVID-19 outbreak.[2] The table sets out the number of children's centres and children's centre linked sites closed each calendar year since 30 April 2010. No data is held on the number of children's centre sites closed prior to 30 April 2010. No closures were reported in the period between 30 April 2010 and 31 December 2010. 164550 164551 164552 attachment (xlsx, 29.8KB)

Special Educational Needs: Coronavirus

Tulip Siddiq: To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what assessment his Department has made of the ability of schools to deliver SEND provision when schools reopen during the covid-19 outbreak from 8 March 2021; and what specific support his Department has provided schools for that provision.

Vicky Ford: As of 8 March 2021 school attendance is mandatory for all pupils, and schools have remained open throughout national lockdown for vulnerable children including those children with special educational needs and disabilities (SEND) with an education, health and care plan (ECHP). The department is tracking attendance daily to monitor what is happening following wider reopening. These data include information on attendance by those children with SEND with an EHCP. Monitoring of attendance enables us to see how many children and young people with SEND are in school and receiving face to face provision.To support schools in wider opening, we have published guidance to support teachers, school leaders and staff to deliver SEND provision safely. We have worked closely with other government department, bodies as well as the sector to develop this guidance, available here: https://www.gov.uk/government/collections/guidance-for-schools-coronavirus-covid-19, https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/guidance-for-full-opening-special-schools-and-other-specialist-settings.We are clear that all therapies and support that would normally be in place for children and young people with EHCPs should be provided, and our focus is on supporting local authorities, health commissioning bodies and education settings to do so.As part of our system of controls, we have worked hard to design a testing regime that works for children and young people with SEND. This includes introducing a home testing approach (to which all pupils and students will default following the first two weeks of on-site testing), building in flexibility for specialist settings, and exploring the use of new technologies to support those who cannot tolerate a swab test.

North West Association of Primary Headteachers

Bill Esterson: To ask the Secretary of State for Education, when he plans to reply to the letters from the North West Association of Primary Headteachers of (a) 19 November 2020 and (b) 2 March 2021.

Nick Gibb: I can confirm that a response has been sent to the letters dated 19 November 2020 and 2 March 2021, from the North West Association of Primary Headteachers.

Schools: Databases

Wes Streeting: To ask the Secretary of State for Education, when he plans to publish the data from the January 2021 school census.

Nick Gibb: The spring 2021 census date was 21 January and the window for schools to return census data closed on Wednesday 17 February. The data collection is due to close fully following data cleaning and validation in mid-March.Spring census data is then released annually, mainly via the four national statistics publications listed below. The weblinks refer to the publications January 2020. The release schedule for January 2021 is expected to follow similar timescales.Pupil absence in schools in England: https://www.gov.uk/government/collections/statistics-pupil-absence last published in May 2020 relating to the Autumn 2019 term.Schools, Pupils and their Characteristics: https://www.gov.uk/government/collections/statistics-school-and-pupil-numbers last published in June 2020.Special Educational Needs in England: https://www.gov.uk/government/collections/statistics-special-educational-needs-sen last published in July 2020.Expulsions and suspensions in England: https://www.gov.uk/government/collections/statistics-exclusions last published in July 2020 and note that this data is collected in arrears such that the upcoming publication will relate to the 2019/20 academic year.A provisional publication schedule giving anticipated month of publication can be found in the gov.uk research and statistics publication calendar at: https://www.gov.uk/search/research-and-statistics?content_store_document_type=upcoming_statistics&order=release-date-oldest.

Remote Education: ICT

Wes Streeting: To ask the Secretary of State for Education, how many (a) laptop devices and (b) internet dongles were distributed to schools prior to 8 March 2021 as part of the Government's policies to support remote learning during the covid-19 outbreak.

Nick Gibb: As of Monday 8 March 2021, over 1.2 million laptops and tablets have been delivered to schools, academy trusts, local authorities and further education colleges. More information can be found here: https://explore-education-statistics.service.gov.uk/find-statistics/laptops-and-tablets-data.The Department publishes this data every week during term time.

Teachers: Coronavirus

Theresa Villiers: To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what steps he is taking to enable retired teachers to take part in volunteer programmes to assist children and young people with catch-up learning.

Nick Gibb: Former teachers returning to the classroom are an important component of the Department’s recruitment strategy, and we continue to prioritise initiatives that capitalise on any potential increased interest in the profession from former teachers. This includes former teachers who wish to provide support with the recovery phase of the COVID-19 outbreak.The Department is using a Return to Teaching Adviser Service to support these efforts. This service provides one-to-one support to former teachers interested in returning to teach mathematics, physics and modern foreign languages. Through the Return to Teaching Adviser Service, the Department has also encouraged former teachers to support wider pupil catch up efforts, such as the National Tutoring Programme.In addition, throughout the recovery phase of the COVID-19 outbreak, volunteers may be used to support the work of the school as would usually be the case, in appropriate roles and subject to proper support, assessment and checks, as set out in the Department’s guidance ‘Keeping children safe in education’, which is available here: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/keeping-children-safe-in-education--2.

Assessments: Coronavirus

Wes Streeting: To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what arrangements he is making for (a) SATS, (b) GCSE, (c) A-level and (d) BTEC examinations in the 2021-22 academic year.

Nick Gibb: Primary assessments have a crucial role in supporting pupils to grasp the basics of reading, writing and mathematics and to prepare them for secondary school. The Department is planning for a full programme of primary assessments to take place in the 2021-22 academic year. We will confirm full details for 2021-22 primary assessments in due course.The Government remains clear that exams are the fairest method to assess pupils. We know that pupils and teachers will be working hard in preparation for GCSE and A level exams in 2022, as well as for their vocational and technical qualification exams and assessments, including BTEC examinations. We will make sure that the interests of pupils are at the centre of our considerations.It is important that pupils in this cohort are able to get a grade safely and fairly and we will continue to monitor the impact of the COVID-19 outbreak on all pupils to ensure that those due to take exams and assessments in 2022 are supported to move to the next stage of their lives fairly. We will make further announcements in due course.

Private Tutors: Vetting

Tim Loughton: To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what plans he has to make it a requirement for private tutors to undergo safeguarding checks and be subject to the DBS requirements applicable to directly employed teachers; and if he will make a statement.

Nick Gibb: Nothing is more important than the safety of children, which is why private tutors are already eligible to receive basic Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) certificates, which parents and carers should ask to see to assure themselves of a tutor’s suitability. In addition to asking to see a private tutor’s basic DBS certificate, parents and carers might also consider what other information may be available to help them assess a tutor’s suitability to work with their children. It is recommended that parents confirm a tutor’s identity. Testimonials from parents and/or pupils themselves will help provide reassurance about the tutor’s teaching ability and about the way in which they interact with the pupil.Parents and carers should also look to ensure that the home tutoring takes place in a room in the home that allows the parent access to enable them to supervise.The Government is exploring ways to allow self employed people, including tutors, to access enhanced criminal records checks.On 21 October 2020, the Department published ‘Keeping children safe during community activities, after-school clubs and tuition: non-statutory guidance for providers running out-of-school settings’. This guidance is for organisations or individuals who provide community activities, tuition or after school clubs for children, also known as out of school settings (OOSS) providers, as well as their staff and volunteers.The guidance aims to help providers of OOSS understand best practice for creating a safe environment for children in their care and give parents and carers confidence that their child is in a safe activity or teaching environment. The guidance can be found here: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/keeping-children-safe-in-out-of-school-settings-code-of-practice.Alongside this, the Department has also published accompanying guidance for parents and carers to help support them when choosing OOSS providers for their children, including positive signs and red flags to look out for. This can be found here: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/guidance-for-parents-and-carers-on-safeguarding-children-in-out-of-school-settings.

Educational Visits: Coronavirus

Tim Loughton: To ask the Secretary of State for Education, when he plans to announce guidance for schools wanting to restore educational residential trips from the summer 2021 term.

Nick Gibb: Schools are advised against all educational visits at this time. The Department is working on advice for schools on the planning and booking of residential trips when it is safe to do so and in line with the Government’s roadmap to recovery, as set out in: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/covid-19-response-spring-2021/covid-19-response-spring-2021. The advice will be published shortly.

Ministry of Justice

Magistrates: Retirement

Dr Julian Lewis: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, pursuant to the answer of the Under Secretary of State to the Rt Hon Member for New Forest East on 20 January 2021, Official Report, col 980, on reinstating recently retired magistrates, if he will make it his policy to permit people aged 70 or over to resume their duties if this would enable them to serve for a significant further period prior to reaching any newly-raised maximum age for magistrates to continue in post.

Chris Philp: On 8 March 2021 the government announced its intention to legislate to increase the mandatory retirement age for judicial office holders, including magistrates, to 75. The legislation will include a transitional provision to enable retired magistrates to apply to return to the bench, subject to business need. The process by which such applications are to be made and considered will be set out in due course.

Prison Officers: Pay

Ben Lake: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, pursuant to the Answer of 2 March 2021 to Question 158908, Prison Officers: Pay, what matters were identified in the equality impact assessment that informed the effect of rejecting recommendation three on (a) unlawful discrimination and (b) advancing equality of opportunity.

Alex Chalk: The 20/21 Prison Service Pay Review Body report was received on 5 June 2020 and included a recommendation, recommendation 3, to uplift the pay of Band 3 prison staff on modernised terms and conditions by £3,000. This recommendation was not accepted by the Government. An Equality Impact Assessment (EIA) was conducted and considered in reaching the decision to reject recommendation 3.The EIA recognised that rejecting recommendation 3 from the PSPRB 20/21 report would adversely impact staff on Fair & Sustainable (F&S) terms and conditions, who (as per the data published on 2 March) are a more diverse staffing group than their counterparts on closed-grades terms.The Government’s consideration of recommendation 3 took this into account, alongside other factors such as the exceptional costs associated with implementing this recommendation, the impact on the overall pay structure, and the changing labour market conditions due to the exceptional economic impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic.The Department identified as part of the EIA that the adverse impact of rejecting recommendation 3 would be addressed by efforts to close the pay differential between staff on closed-grades terms and those on F&S terms. This remains a key component of the Department’s longer-term pay strategy.

Prison Officers: Pay

Liz Saville Roberts: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, pursuant to the Answer of 2 March 2021 to Question 158908, Prison Officers: Pay, what assessment he has made of the length of time required to close the gap between prison officers on modernised / Fair & Sustainable terms and conditions and prison officers on closed-grades terms and conditions.

Alex Chalk: It is the responsibility of the Home Office and the respective Pay Review Body to reach decision on police officer pay. It is assumed the question is misworded, and the answer is provided on this assumption. Closing the pay differential between prison officers on modernised / Fair & Sustainable (F&S) terms and conditions and prison officers on closed-grades terms and conditions is dependent on a number of factors including public sector pay policy, affordability and economic factors (as Fair and Sustainable is designed to be responsive to external labour markets), and the recommendations made by the Prison Service Pay Review Body (PSPRB). For this reason, it is not possible to commit to a set timescale at which the differential will be closed. While it is not possible to make progress on closing the gap between prison officers on F&S terms and conditions and prison officers on closed-grades terms and conditions in the context of the current pay pause, this remains a key component of the Department’s pay strategy and will be a focus once the central Government pay pause has been lifted.

Prison Officers: Pay

Liz Saville Roberts: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, pursuant to the Answer of 2 March 2021 to Question 158908, Prison Officers: Pay, if he will place a redacted copy of that Equality Impact Assessment in the Library.

Liz Saville Roberts: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, pursuant to the Answer of 2 March 2021 to Question 158908, Prison Officers: Pay, what the scope of the legal advice contained in that Equality Impact Assessment is.

Liz Saville Roberts: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, pursuant to the Answer of 2 March 2021 to Question 158908, Prison Officers: Pay, what risks involving the impact of rejecting the recommendation on (a) eliminating unlawful discrimination and (b) advancing equality of opportunity were identified in that Equality Impact Assessment.

Liz Saville Roberts: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice,  pursuant to the Answer of 2 March 2021 to Question 158908, Prison Officers: Pay, what assessment he has made of the potential effect of imposing a pay freeze on prison officers earning more than £24,000 on (a) unlawful discrimination and (b) advancing equality of opportunity.

Alex Chalk: In line with the practice of successive administrations, the Government does not routinely publish Equality Impact Assessments (EIA). The scope of the legal advice in the EIA was surrounding options that the Department was considering as part of the its decision-making regarding prison officer pay and allowances. These options were ultimately not pursued as they were not cost viable. The EIA recognised that rejecting recommendation 3 from the PSPRB 20/21 report would adversely impact staff on Fair & Sustainable (F&S) terms and conditions, who (as per the data published on 2 March) are a more diverse staffing group than their counterparts on closed-grades terms. The Government’s consideration of recommendation 3 took this into account, alongside other factors such as the exceptional costs associated with implementing this recommendation, the impact on the overall pay structure, and the changing labour market conditions due to the exceptional economic impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic. The Department identified as part of the EIA that the adverse impact of rejecting recommendation 3 would be addressed by efforts to close the pay differential between staff on closed-grades terms and those on F&S terms. This remains a key component of the Department’s longer-term pay strategy. The Government’s Public Sector pay restraint policy for the current (2021/22) financial year was announced by the Chancellor on the 25 November 2020. He detailed that pay rises in the public sector will be restrained and targeted, and that anyone earning less than £24,000 will be protected and will receive a minimum uplift of £250, or the National Living Wage (whichever is the higher) should they qualify. An equalities impact assessment was undertaken as part of the Chancellor’s decision and it did not find that the implementation of public sector pay restraint will result in any unjustified differential impact to individuals with protected characteristics. It can be found here: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/2020-spending-review-public-sector-pay-policy-full-impact-assessment. The national equivalent basic pay of Band 3 prison staff on F&S terms (our largest staffing group), as well as both F&S and closed grade Band 2 operational support grades is below the protected earnings floor of £24,000. The Department’s proposals on how the uplift should apply to prison staff will be published and submitted to the PSPRB for their consideration shortly.

Prisons: Visits

Kerry McCarthy: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, with reference to the update posted on www.gov.uk on 23 February 2021, what steps he is taking to allow prison visits to resume.

Alex Chalk: Social visits to prisons are currently suspended given the risks from Covid-19 and the need to minimise non-essential travel at this time. We continue to support social visits in compassionate circumstances, including visits to children in custody.In line with the community position, over the coming weeks and months we will support establishments to ease some of the restrictions currently in place, guided by public health advice and as it becomes safe to do so. To support the delivery of greater regime activity, significant additional measures have been put in place to reduce the risk of Covid-19 as much as possible. The mitigations we have introduced mean that we are now much better prepared for managing Covid-19 in prisons.

Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government

Buildings: Insulation

Hilary Benn: To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, if he will place in the Library a copy of the video of the fire test commissioned by the Victorian Building Authority in Australia through a National Association of Testing Authorities accredited laboratory on a rendered external wall system in June 2020 to test the fire spread performance of EPS (with fire retardant) in Exterior Insulation Finishing Systems (EIFS) on Class 2-9 buildings of Type A or Type B construction.

Christopher Pincher: We do not have a copy of the video for the fire test commissioned by the Victorian Building Authority in Australia on a rendered external wall system in June 2020.

Local Plans

Kelly Tolhurst: To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, what criteria local authorities are assessed against before his Department decides to intervene in the Local Plan process.

Christopher Pincher: The local plan intervention criteria were confirmed in the 2017 Housing White Paper, and subsequently through a Written Statement in the House of Commons on 16 November 2017:  • the least progress in plan-making had been made; • policies in plans had not been kept up to date; • there was higher housing pressure; and • intervention would have the greatest effect in accelerating local plan production We also made clear that decisions on intervention would also be informed by the wider planning context in each area (specifically, the extent to which authorities are working cooperatively to put strategic plans in place, and the potential effect that not having a plan has on neighbourhood planning activity) In August 2020, we consulted on a set of revised intervention criteria through the Planning White Paper:   • the level of housing requirement in the area; • the planning context of the area, including any co-operation to get plans in place across local planning authority boundaries; • any exceptional circumstances presented by the local planning authority Consideration is currently being given to consultation responses received, and any changes to the criteria will be considered alongside the wider proposals for planning reform as set out in the White Paper.

Buildings: Insulation

Mike Amesbury: To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, what estimate he has made of the number of qualified chartered fire engineers that can undertake an EWS1 survey.

Christopher Pincher: There are 212 chartered fire engineers registered with the Institution of Fire Engineers and based in the United Kingdom.A wider group of professionals can complete EWS1 forms. The Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors advises that the EWS1 form must be completed by a fully qualified member of a relevant professional body within the construction industry with sufficient expertise to identify the relevant materials within the external wall cladding and attachments.To speed up valuations where EWS1 forms are justified, the Government is providing nearly £700,000 funding to the Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors to train up to 2,000 more assessors in 2021. This training commenced in January and there are over 500 candidates on the course.

Housing Infrastructure Fund

Kelly Tolhurst: To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, what plans he has to review the progress of projects supported by the Housing Infrastructure Fund.

Kelly Tolhurst: To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, what plans he has to ensure projects supported under the Housing Infrastructure Fund are completed on time and to budget.

Kelly Tolhurst: To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, what plans he has to ensure projects supported under the Housing Infrastructure Fund are completed on time and to budget.

Christopher Pincher: Comprehensive governance and assurance systems are in place both in my Department and at Homes England to manage delivery. Further expert support is provided by the Infrastructure and Projects Authority.

Local Plans

Kelly Tolhurst: To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, what steps he is taking to support local authorities to complete their Local Plans.

Christopher Pincher: On 19 January 2021, a Written Statement was made in the House of Commons which set out the importance of maintaining progress to get up to date local plans in place by December 2023. The Written Statement also made it clear that I would consider contacting those authorities where delays to plan-making have occurred to discuss the reasons why this has happened and actions to be undertaken. I have subsequently contacted a number of authorities where delays have occurred, and meetings are currently taking place with them in order to identify what support the Department can offer to help ensure that those areas can benefit from an up to date plan as soon as possible.

Help to Buy Scheme: Females

Thangam Debbonaire: To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, what proportion of Help to Buy loans were given to women in each year since that scheme's introduction.

Christopher Pincher: Data on gender of customers is not collected in the operation of the Help to Buy: Equity Loan programme.

Members: Correspondence

Rosie Cooper: To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, when he plans to respond to the letter from the hon. Member for West Lancashire of 18 January 2021 on the closure of the Help to Buy scheme, reference ZA55197.

Christopher Pincher: We issued a response to the Hon Member on 9 March 2021.

Towns Fund and UK Community Renewal Fund

Dame Diana Johnson: To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, what the timeframe is for his Department's publication of the selection methodology it used to allocate funding through the (a) Towns Fund and (b) Community Renewal Fund.

Eddie Hughes: In selecting towns for the Towns Fund, Ministers considered levels of deprivation alongside other factors including skills, employment levels and exposure to economic shocks. The government has published details of the selection process here: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/towns-fund-selection-summary-of-accounting-officer-advice/towns-fund-selection-process-summary-of-accounting-officer-ao-adviceWith regards to the UK Community Renewal Fund, as set out in the prospectus published on 3 March, we have identified 100 priority places based on an index of economic resilience across Great Britain which measures productivity, household income, unemployment, skills and population density. We are committed to transparency and a methodological note will be published shortly.

Members: Correspondence

Ms Harriet Harman: To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, when he plans to reply to the joint letter from the hon. Members for (a) Camberwell and Peckham, (b) Bermondsey and Old Southwark, (c) Dulwich and West Norwood, and Cllr Kieron Williams, Leader of Southwark Council and Cllr Evelyn Akoto, Cabinet Member for Public Health and Community Safety, sent electronically on 27 January 2021, on Government funding for local covid-19 vaccine advice.

Eddie Hughes: A response to the letter was issued on 19 February and subsequent to this an electronic copy was sent on 8 March.

UK Community Renewal Fund

Steve Reed: To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, if he will publish the formula for determining which areas will have access to capacity funding under the Community Renewal Fund.

Eddie Hughes: As set out in the prospectus published on 3 March, we have identified 100 priority places based on an index of economic resilience across Great Britain which measures productivity, household income, unemployment, skills and population density.The lead authority of each of the 100 priority places will receive capacity funding to help them invite bids locally and appraise these bids. Each lead authority will receive £20,000 per priority place. This funding can be incurred from April 2021 for staff or other resources needed to coordinate and appraise bids. It will be paid to lead authorities in the summer and will be paid regardless of whether bids are successful.We are committed to transparency and a methodological note will be published explaining how the index of economic resilience was developed.A portion of the Community Renewal Fund will be reserved for capacity funding, to be allocated to local partners for preparation for the UK Shared Prosperity Fund. This will be made available when the long-term allocation profile for the UK Shared Prosperity Fund is published later this year. We will also set out details on how this capacity funding will be distributed at this time. The allocation of capacity funding under the UK Community Renewal Fund does not pre-determine the allocation approach for the UK Shared Prosperity Fund.

Funerals: Judaism

Theresa Villiers: To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, whether the rules which will allow 30 people to attend a funeral will also apply to the formal consecration of a tombstone as part of observance of Jewish faith traditions.

Eddie Hughes: The Roadmap out of lockdown published on 22 February set out the government’s four-step roadmap by which Covid-19 restrictions would be lifted. The Jewish Stone Setting ceremony comes under the rules governing wakes and other post funeral commemorative events. As such, six people are permitted to attend such a service at present. When we reach step 2 (not before 12 April) that limit will increase to 15, while at Step 3 (not before 17 May) it will rise again to 30.

Levelling Up Fund: Finance

Dan Carden: To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, when the Government plans to publish the selection methodology for the allocation of funding under the Levelling Up Fund.

Eddie Hughes: As set out in the prospectus published last week, the index used for the Levelling Up Fund places areas into category one, two or three based on the local area’s need for economic recovery and growth, improved transport connectivity, and regeneration. We will shortly publish further detail on the methodology used to calculate the index.

Levelling Up Fund

Steve Reed: To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, if he will publish the metrics for the determination of bids for funding under the Levelling Up Fund; and whether the metrics of the determination of those bids will include a scoring system.

Steve Reed: To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, if he will publish all correspondence between his office and the HM Treasury on the priority list for capacity funding under the Levelling Up Fund.

Steve Reed: To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, if he will publish all correspondence between his office and the HM Treasury on the priority list for capacity funding under the Levelling Up Fund.

Steve Reed: To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, how many iterations of the priority list for capacity funding under the Levelling Up Fund were developed; and whether any areas were added to that list by Ministers.

Steve Reed: To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, how many iterations of the priority list for capacity funding under the Levelling Up Fund were developed; and whether any areas were added to that list by Ministers.

Eddie Hughes: As set out in the prospectus published last week, the index used for the Levelling Up Fund places areas into category one, two or three based on the local area’s need for economic recovery and growth, improved transport connectivity, and regeneration. We will shortly publish further detail on the methodology used to calculate the index.

Ministry of Defence

Military Bases: Northern Ireland

Sir Jeffrey M Donaldson: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what plans he has to make changes to the composition or strength of the Northern Ireland Garrison.

Johnny Mercer: The right hon. Member will be aware that the full conclusions of the Integrated Review will be published next week, and the Defence Secretary intends to set out his plans for Defence shortly afterwards. It would not be appropriate for me to pre-empt these announcements in any way however you can rest assured that the Government is absolutely committed that the UK continues to have a world class Armed Forces based across all of our Nations, and that we remain resolute in our intent to protect and promote the combined strengths of our Union.

BAe 146 Aircraft

Mr Kevan Jones: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, when his Department plans to publish costings for the replacement of the four BAE 146 aircraft which are to be retired.

Jeremy Quin: No decision has been made on a replacement for the BAE 146 Fleet the out of service date for which is March 2022; however, options are under consideration as part of MOD's routine capability planning process.

Joint Strike Fighter Aircraft: Procurement

Mr Kevan Jones: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, whether he plans to reduce the order of F35s from the original number of 138.

Mr Kevan Jones: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, whether the Government plans to buy more than 48 F-35b aircraft.

Mr Kevan Jones: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, whether the Government plans to buy more than 48 F-35b aircraft.

Jeremy Quin: I refer the hon. Member to the answer provided by my right hon. Friend Baroness Goldie to Question HL11192 to the noble Lord, Lord West of Spithead on 16 December 2020. The full conclusions of the Integrated Review will be announced on 16 March 2021.HL11192 - Joint Strike Fighter (docx, 13.5KB)

Military Bases: Catterick

Dan Jarvis: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, how much funding has been allocated to Catterick Garrison in each of the last five years; and what assessment he has made of the effect of that funding on the North Yorkshire economy.

Jeremy Quin: The Ministry of Defence’s presence in Catterick has enabled a critical mass of personnel to be located in the area which has had a positive impact on the overall economic prosperity of the area. The almost 7,000 personnel who have permanent employment at Catterick Garrison, alongside the 3,000 that pass through on an annual basis, represent an important source of spending and income for the surrounding local communities. The total Defence Infrastructure Organisation delivered expenditure on infrastructure at Catterick Garrison, by financial year, is shown below: Financial Year (FY)Total spend £M2020/2146.7512019/2053.392018/1996.02 The figure given for this financial year is as at 28 February 2021.Prior to FY 2018/19, expenditure was managed centrally by the Defence Infrastructure Organisation and it is not possible to break down spend by establishment.Due to the way the Department allocates and manages expenditure, it is not possible to provide detail on staff and running costs.

Voyager Aircraft

Mr Kevan Jones: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, how many times has the VIP A330 Voyager been used in each financial year since its conversion; and by whom.

Jeremy Quin: The number of occasions Voyager ZZ336 has been used in the VIP role since it was converted for that function is given in the table below.  FY 2016-17FY2017-18FY2018-19FY2019-20FY2020-21*8101051* 1 April 2020 to 9 March 2021 When operating in the VIP transport role, ZZ336 has carried the Prime Minister, senior members of the Royal family and Cabinet Ministers. However, military air-to-air refuelling remains Voyager ZZ336's primary mission.

Armed Forces: Pay

Mr Kevan Jones: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, pursuant to the Answer of 24 February 2021 to Question 154826, on Armed Forces: Pay, for what reason the Office of Manpower Economics disagrees with his assessment that the recommendations of the Armed Forces’ Pay Review Body have always been accepted by his Department.

Johnny Mercer: The Ministry of Defence is not aware of any such disagreement and has nothing to add to the Answer provided to Question 154826 on 24 February 2021.154826 - Armed Forces Pay (docx, 15.4KB)

Armed Forces: Officers

Derek Twigg: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, how many (a) sixth form scholarships, (b) university bursaries and (c) other bursaries were awarded in each of the last five years to pupils or ex-pupils of (i) state and (ii) private schools for officer candidates.

Johnny Mercer: The requested information is not held centrally and could be provided only at disproportionate cost.

Department for Work and Pensions

Employment: Coronavirus

Andy McDonald: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, pursuant to the Answers of 26 February 2021 to Questions 147867 and 160679, on Employment: Coronavirus, if she will publish the (a) eleven data sets that HSE statisticians have drawn on to inform decisions about proportionate regulation and (b) methodology used to decide that the effects of covid-19 are non-permanent or reversible, non-progressive and any disability is temporary amongst the working population as a whole, not taking account of individuals with a particular resistance or susceptibility.

Mims Davies: The Department for Work and Pensions has indicated that it will not be possible to answer this question within the usual time period. An answer is being prepared and will be provided as soon as it is available.

Employment: Coronavirus

Andy McDonald: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, pursuant to the Answer of 8 February 2021 to Question 147867 and the Answer of 26 February to Question 155052, whether the Health and Safety Executive, at its board meeting in the week beginning 22 February 2021, agreed to review the Executive's Enforcement Management Model classification of covid-19.

Mims Davies: The Department for Work and Pensions has indicated that it will not be possible to answer this question within the usual time period. An answer is being prepared and will be provided as soon as it is available.

Health and Safety Executive: Inspections

Stephen Timms: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, how many site-based Health and Safety Executive spot checks have been carried out by (a) covid-19 support officers, (b) visiting officers/regulatory contact officers and (c) inspectors in each month since March 2020.

Mims Davies: Spot checks are one part of HSE’s blended approach in tackling Covid-19 risk in the workplace. With additional Government funding to support Covid-19 work, HSE engaged third party suppliers to deliver spot check calls and visits by spot check support officers to a protocol and script set out by HSE. Where these checks reveal cause for concern the case is passed to an inspector for a visit and enforcement action taken if necessary, to ensure the workplace is Covid-19 secure. The additional capacity provided by the spot check support officers has broadened HSE’s reach to many more workplaces than would have been possible and supported inspectors focus on planned key work.In addition to spot checks, HSE inspectors have visited workplaces to support public health bodies in responding to outbreaks and to investigate Covid-19 concerns raised by workers and others. Also, in any site intervention with dutyholders, for example investigating a serious incident, carrying out targeted proactive inspection work where the focus is non Covid-19 activity or similar regulatory activity, HSE inspectors check compliance with Covid-19 standards.Since March 2020, HSE has carried out 149,248 spot checks, 65,152 of these were physical site visits to check controls were in place which met the Government’s workplace Covid-19 secure guidelines.The breakdown of visits is provided in the table below: Month / YearSpot Check  Support Officer HSE Visiting Officer / Regulatory Contact OfficerHSE InspectorMarch 2020  2April 2020  6May 2020  15June 2020  91July 2020 201475August 2020 181448September 2020 381989October 20202,263262804November 20207,395411714December 20208,94820974January 202112,7377721February 202114,80511723March 20216,765294Totals52,91318312,056 Note: Figures were obtained from HSE’s live operational database on 9th March 2020 and may be subject to change, e.g. as there can be a delay of up to ten working days before data is uploaded onto the system.

Kickstart Scheme: Employment

Dame Diana Johnson: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what assessment his Department has made on the effect of the Kickstart scheme on employment levels.

Mims Davies: The Department of Work and Pensions’ Kickstart Scheme is creating new, fully-funded, six- month jobs for young people at risk of long term unemployment. On Monday 8th March the Secretary of State announced that we have approved almost 150,000 jobs through the scheme, of which over 4,000 young people have started in and over 30,000 are currently being advertised. Kickstart is designed to improve the chances that young people who participate will find sustained employment following their Kickstart job and as the economy starts to recover from the pandemic.

Health and Safety Executive: Disclosure of Information

Andy McDonald: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, for what reason the agendas, papers and minutes of Health and Safety Executive open board meetings have not been published since March 2020; and when the HSE plans to publish those documents.

Mims Davies: At the start of the Covid-19 pandemic, in common with a number of organisations in the public sector, HSE switched its Board meetings to a virtual format. Due to limitations of the technology used, it was not possible for any of these meetings to be open and therefore all board meetings since March 2020 have been closed. Whilst the HSE Board is firmly committed to engaging with stakeholders in an open and transparent way, the format of this is subject to review and therefore, at the present time, no future open meeting dates have been set.

Carer's Allowance: Overpayments

Stephen Timms: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, pursuant to the Answer of 3 March to Question 156242 on Carer's Allowance: Overpayments, what information her Department holds on the starting date and durations of the overpayments of Carer’s Allowance first identified in (a) 2018-19, (b) 2019-20 and (c) 2020-21.

Justin Tomlinson: The Government recognises and appreciates the vital role unpaid carers play in supporting loved ones who are ill, frail or disabled. The Carer’s Allowance debts referred to Debt Management in each of the last 3 years, reflect individual overpayments; the starting dates and durations will therefore vary accordingly. However, the average lengths of the recoverable Carer’s Allowance overpayments referred to Debt Management in each of the requested years was as follows:  2018/20192019/20202020/2021 YTDAverage Length (Days)164213135 I can also confirm that the median start dates for those overpayments were: 2018/20192019/20202020/2021 YTDMedian Start Date06/11/201717/12/201809/12/2019 These overpayments have arisen in the main because changes have not been reported on time. DWP takes every care to explain a claimant’s responsibilities when they apply for Carer’s Allowance; this includes the need to report changes on time. The Department has improved Carer’s Allowance communications to make this even clearer. New technology and additional staffing have now made it easier to identify and prevent overpayments. Notes: The Department has a duty to recover overpaid benefits as quickly and efficiently as possible. Overpayment recovery is subject to various legislative limitations and safeguards so customers do not experience financial hardship. There are rules covering the amount of money we can take from a person’s benefit and customers are informed in advance before benefit deductions start. Where a person claims they cannot afford the proposed rate of recovery, they are asked to provide details of their income and expenditure. When this information is provided, their financial circumstances can be taken into account and a reduction in their rate of repayment may be agreed. In these circumstances, the situation would be reviewed at regular periods. In exceptional circumstances, a temporary suspension of recovery may be agreed.

Housing Benefit: Social Rented Housing

Ed Davey: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, if she will review the spare room subsidy policy to ensure that people who are unable to work as a result of illness are not obliged to pay that charge.

Will Quince: The ‘Removal of the Spare Room Subsidy’ policy has helped to encourage mobility within the social rented sector, strengthen work-incentives and make better use of available social housing. There are no plans to amend the policy which already allows for the provision of an additional bedroom for disabled people and carers, foster carers, parents who adopt, parents of service personnel, and people who have suffered a recent bereavement. Additionally, those in receipt of pension age housing benefit are exempt. If a claimants ability to mitigate any shortfall between their housing support and rent has changed, Discretionary Housing Payments (DHP’s) are available. DHPs can be paid to those in receipt of Housing Benefit or support with housing costs in Universal Credit who face a shortfall in meeting their rental housing costs. Since 2011 we have provided over £1 billion in DHP funding.

State Retirement Pensions: Underpayments

Stephen Timms: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, with reference to Written Statement HCWS824 made on 4 March 2021 by the Parliamentary Under Secretary of State for Pensions and Financial Inclusion, how many underpayments her Department’s correction exercise has identified to date.

Stephen Timms: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, with reference to Written Statement HCWS824 made on 4 March 2021 by the Parliamentary Under Secretary of State for Pensions and Financial Inclusion, how much her Department has paid in backpayments as a result of the correction exercise to date.

Stephen Timms: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, with reference to Written Statement HCWS824 made on 4 March 2021 by the Parliamentary Under Secretary of State for Pensions and Financial Inclusion, how much her Department has paid in backpayments as a result of the correction exercise to date.

Guy Opperman: Parliament was updated on this issue through a written statement laid on 4 March and a topical statement by the Secretary of State during DWP oral questions on 8 March. I have committed to updating Parliament as the correction exercise progresses.

Covid Winter Grant Scheme

Ms Lyn Brown: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, whether she plans to continue support for vulnerable children and families provided by the Covid Winter Grant Scheme.

Will Quince: The Government is committed to helping people with the cost of living and providing a safety net for those that need it and has injected billions into the welfare system for those most in need. The Covid Winter Grant Scheme was introduced to provide Local Authorities in England with funding to support vulnerable households with the costs of food, heating and water bills, in response to the pandemic. The funding was intended to provide additional support throughout the challenging winter period to those most in need. This will now be extended until the 16 April 2021 to support families as restrictions are gradually lifted.

Local Housing Allowance: Homelessness and Poverty

David Linden: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what assessment she has made of the potential effect of the real terms cut to Local Housing Allowance rates in 2021-22 on levels of (a) poverty and (b) homelessness; and if she will publish that assessment.

Will Quince: Local Housing Allowance (LHA) rates were increased in April 2020 to the 30th percentile of local rents costing almost £1 billion providing 1.5 million claimants with around £600 more housing support per year than they would otherwise have received. For 2021/22 LHA rates are to be maintained at their increased level, ensuring all claimants who benefited from the significant increase last year will continue to do so. In addition, as announced on 3 March, we will be extending the exemption for care leavers and former residents of homeless hostels to all qualifying under 25 year olds from June 2021. This will bring forward the planned implementation of these previously announced changed by over 2 years. For those who require additional support with housing costs Discretionary Housing Payments (DHP) are available. Since 2011 we have provided over £1 billion in DHP funding.

Children: Maintenance

Navendu Mishra: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, pursuant to the Answer of 3 March 2021 to Question 160841, what changes her Department is making as part of the overall improvement plan that will support increased compliance of child maintenance payments.

Guy Opperman: Child Maintenance Service are undertaking a range of changes as part of an overall improvement programme. This includes automation of simpler tasks and an improved digital offer, that will enable caseworkers to focus on more complex areas of work, supporting service improvements and increased compliance.

Maternity Pay

Navendu Mishra: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, whether he plans to review the rate of statutory maternity pay with regard to the Ministerial and other Maternity Allowances Bill.

Guy Opperman: The Government has no plans to review the rate of Statutory Maternity Pay.Statutory Maternity Pay is intended to enable employed pregnant women and new mothers to prepare for, and recover from, birth and to bond with their child.

Surgical Mesh Implants

Mrs Sharon Hodgson: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what steps she is taking to ensure that her Department's assessors are aware of the symptoms of mesh injury.

Justin Tomlinson: All health professionals carrying out Personal Independence Payment (PIP) assessments and Work Capability Assessments (WCA) on behalf of the department have been issued with guidance on mesh which was developed in conjunction with external stakeholders and will be reviewed and updated as necessary. The department requires health professionals carrying out assessments to have a broad training in disability analysis, as well as training in specific conditions, including multiple and complex conditions. While preparing to undertake an assessment, health professionals can access a wide range of clinical resources to research any condition presented. This includes evidence based protocols, e-learning modules or case studies, as well as keeping knowledge up to date through Continuous Professional Development (CPD).

Disability: Coronavirus

Mr Tanmanjeet Singh Dhesi: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what discussions she has had with Cabinet colleagues on the effect of the covid-19 outbreak on the financial situation of disabled people and their carers.

Justin Tomlinson: Disabled people and their carers have access to the full range of social security benefits according to their circumstances. DWP Ministers and officials regularly discuss support for disabled people and carers with their counterparts across Government and recognises and values the vital contribution made by carers in supporting some of the most vulnerable in society.

Pneumoconiosis: Compensation

Navendu Mishra: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what assessment she has made of the effect of the suspension of assessments for industrial injuries disablement benefits (IIDB) during the covid-19 outbreak on a claimant’s ability to receive compensation under the Pneumoconiosis (Works Compensation) Act 1979; and if she will take steps to backdate IIDB claims.

Justin Tomlinson: Due to COVID-19, since March face-to-face assessments for all disability benefits, including the Industrial Injuries Disablement Benefit (IIDB) have been suspended. For successful applications to IIDB, award payments will be backdated to the date of application to ensure claimants will not lose out on payments they are entitled to. Reassessment case awards have been extended to ensure that payments continue unhindered on those cases. Any deteriorations which would have meant an increase in award, will be backdated once face-to-face assessments recommence, to ensure no one is left out of pocket. Eligibility to the Pneumoconiosis Etc. (Workers’ Compensation) Act 1979 (‘1979 Act’) is dependent on an individual having an IIDB assessment and their age at the time of this assessment. We have continued to process IIDB claims and lump sum payments for those individuals with terminal illnesses, and those for Fast Track prescribed diseases. These claims have continued to be assessed as usual without the need for a face to face assessment. Individuals can also then claim under the ‘1979 Act’ if eligible. The IIDB Quarterly Statistics show that 1,560 sufferers and 160 dependents received payments totalling £27,233,989 between March and December 2020 under the ‘1979 Act’. The data can be found here under table 3.1: https://www.gov.uk/government/statistics/industrial-injuries-disablement-benefit-quarterly-statistics-data-to-june-2020 We have now begun some paper based assessments for certain prescribed diseases. This allows a decision on such claims and will enable claimants to determine their eligibility to the ‘1979 Act’.

Local Restrictions Support Grant: Social Security Benefits

Paul Maynard: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, for what reasons the Local Restriction Support Grant paid by local authorities to businesses is taken into account for self-employed tax credit claimants but not for self-employed universal credit claimants.

Mims Davies: The tax credits system is designed to work closely alongside the tax system. This is why the general measure of income for assessing claims to tax credits is any income which is charged to income tax.The Local Restriction Support Grant is a taxable payment made to businesses. As such, it is considered as income for tax credits purposes. This is consistent with other forms of taxable business support available during the Covid-19 pandemic, such as the Self-Employment Income Support Grant and Small Business Grants.DWP legislation provides that Covid-19 related grants which are intended to cover loss of business income and to aid business recovery, will be disregarded for Universal Credit purposes for 12 months.

Department for Work and Pensions: Social Security Benefits

Jonathan Reynolds: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, how many people employed by her Department claim in-work benefits.

Guy Opperman: This information is not available.

Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office

Overseas Aid

Preet Kaur Gill: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, with reference to his oral contribution of 26 November 2020, Official report, col 1018, whether he has received legal advice in respect of whether legislation would be needed in the event that the UK did not return to the target of spending 0.7 per cent of GNI on ODA in the financial year 2022.

Nigel Adams: The Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office has indicated that it will not be possible to answer this question within the usual time period. An answer is being prepared and will be provided as soon as it is available.

Overseas Aid

Preet Kaur Gill: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, whether he received legal advice in respect of lowering the target for ODA from 0.7 per cent to 0.5 per cent prior to 26 November 2020.

Nigel Adams: The Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office has indicated that it will not be possible to answer this question within the usual time period. An answer is being prepared and will be provided as soon as it is available.

China: Diplomatic Service and Embassies

Tim Loughton: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what requests for access have been made by British Embassy and Consular officials in China to (a) Tibet and (b) Tibetans held in confinement; which of those requests for access were permitted; and if he will make a statement.

Nigel Adams: British diplomats last visited the Tibet Autonomous Region in July 2019, following a request for access by our Embassy in Beijing. We periodically request access to the Tibet Autonomous Region, but did not do so in 2020 due to the COVID pandemic and related reasons. A British Ambassador has not visited Tibet since 2017. Our Ambassador is the UK representative to the whole of China and we believe it is important she is able to visit all parts of the country. We have not requested access to Tibetans in detention. Our consular access is limited to British nationals. However, we continue to express our concerns about the human rights situation in the Tibet Autonomous Region with the Chinese authorities, and call on them to uphold the rights of all citizens guaranteed in international law and China's own constitution.

Anoosheh Ashoori

Lisa Nandy: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what recent representations he has made to his Iranian counterpart on the return of the detained British national, Anoosheh Ashoori, to the UK.

James Cleverly: We are doing everything we can to secure the release of British dual nationals arbitrarily detained in Iran, including Anoosheh Ashoori, so that they can be reunited with their loved ones.The Foreign Secretary continues directly to press Foreign Minister Zarif for this and The Prime Minister has raised the issue with President Rouhani. Our Ambassador in Tehran consistently raises our detainees with the Iranian Ministry of Foreign Affairs, most recently on 9 March.

Jamal Khashoggi

Lisa Nandy: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, with reference to the Office of the US Director of National Intelligence report, Assessing the Saudi Government’s Role in the Killing of Jamal Khashoggi, published 11 February 2021, whether he is making an assessment of the potential merits of designating Crown Prince Muhammad bin Salman under the Global Human Rights sanctions regime.

James Cleverly: It is not appropriate to speculate who may be designated under the sanctions regime in the future.

Jamal Khashoggi

Lisa Nandy: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, with reference to the Office of the US Director of National Intelligence (ODNI) report, Assessing the Saudi Government’s Role in the Killing of Jamal Khashoggi, published 11 February 2021, whether the ODNI shared the report with his Department ahead of its publication.

James Cleverly: It is the long-standing policy of the Government not to comment on intelligence matters.

Jamal Khashoggi

Lisa Nandy: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, with reference to the Office of the US Director of National Intelligence report, Assessing the Saudi Government’s Role in the Killing of Jamal Khashoggi, published 11 February 2021, what assessment he has made of the role of Crown Prince Muhammad bin Salman in the operation in Istanbul to capture or kill Saudi journalist Jamal Khashoggi.

James Cleverly: The UK has always been clear that Khashoggi's murder was a terrible crime. We condemn his killing in the strongest possible terms, which is why we have evidenced by us sanctioning sanctioned twenty Saudi nationals involved in the murder under the global human rights regime.

Jerusalem: Internally Displaced People

Stephen Timms: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what recent discussions he has had with relevant stakeholders on the conformity of the forcible transfer of Palestinian families from their homes in East Jerusalem with international criminal and humanitarian law; and if he will make a statement.

James Cleverly: We regularly make clear our concerns about the evictions of Palestinians from their homes in East Jerusalem to the Israeli authorities. The UK Ambassador in Tel Aviv raised ongoing demolitions with the Israeli Authorities in a meeting alongside like-minded partners on 25 February 2021. On 25 November 2020, the UK Consul General Jerusalem visited families at risk of eviction in Sheikh Jarrah, restating UK opposition to evictions of Palestinians from their homes. I raised the issue of evictions of Palestinians from their homes with the Israeli Ambassador to the UK on 29 October 2020. Our position on demolitions and evictions in the Occupied Palestinian Territories is clear. The Fourth Geneva Convention, which applies to all occupied territories, including East Jerusalem, prohibits demolitions or forced evictions absent military necessity.

Coronavirus: Vaccination

Mr Andrew Mitchell: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, which Department will incur the cost of the donation of the UK’s surplus covid-19 vaccine doses to COVAX.

Wendy Morton: The Prime Minister has confirmed that the UK will share the majority of any surplus COVID-19 vaccines with the COVAX international vaccine procurement pool. As the multilateral facility responsible for ensuring global equitable access to vaccines, COVAX is best able to distribute vaccines where they are needed most.Our current priorities are ensuring the safety of the UK population, and supporting COVAX as it starts distributing vaccines to the most vulnerable populations around the world. We will set out more details on funding mechanisms in due course.

Home Office

Hate Crime

Dr Julian Lewis: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, pursuant to the Answer of 25 February 2021 to Question 156232 on hate crime, subjectivity and equality before the law, whether the people conducting the review of hate crime legislation will have regard to the content of John Stuart Mill's essay On Liberty;  what the principles underlying that review are; and if she will make a statement.

Victoria Atkins: The Law Commission is conducting the hate crime review. The terms of reference for the review ask it to review the adequacy and parity of protection offered by the law relating to hate crime and to make recommendations for its reform.This includes:• Reviewing the current range of specific offences and aggravating factors in sentencing, and making recommendations on the most appropriate models to ensure that the criminal law provides consistent and effective protection from conduct motivated by hatred of protected groups or characteristics.• Reviewing the existing range of protected characteristics, identifying gaps in the scope of the protection currently offered and making recommendations to promote a consistent approach.Full details can be found at:https://www.lawcom.gov.uk/project/hate-crime/In the consultation that it issued in relation to this review, the Law Commission noted John Stewart Mill’s essay in relation to discussing the principles of free expression.

Members: Correspondence

Martin Docherty-Hughes: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, when she plans to answer the letter of 3 December 2020 from the hon. Member for West Dunbartonshire relating to Mrs Gurpreet Singh Johal of Dumbarton.

Kevin Foster: A response was sent on 10 March 2021.

Home Office: Public Expenditure

Nick Thomas-Symonds: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, for what reason the net cash requirement allocated to her Department for 2020-21 has exceeded the amount provided by the Main Estimate by £1.25 billion; and if she will provide a breakdown of the spending areas the additional funding has been allocated to.

Kevin Foster: A rationale for the increase can be found in the 2020-21 Net Cash Requirement shown in the Supplementary Estimate.

Biometrics: Bristol

Thangam Debbonaire: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what plans her Department has to extend the provision of free biometric enrolment services to include a Core Service Point in the City of Bristol.

Kevin Foster: UK Visa and Citizenship Application Service (UKVCAS) centres are run by Sopra Steria Ltd (SSL) on behalf of UK Visas & Immigration (UKVI). SSL operate a core service point, offering free appointments in Cardiff Bay, approximately one hour away from Bristol. SSL also operate an enhanced service point in Bristol, the Kingswood enhanced service point, where customers can choose to enrol their biometrics and avail themselves of the other services included within the additional charge.It is not economically viable to have a core UKVCAS site offering free appointments in every region. When the UKVCAS service was incepted, SSL undertook market research to identify service point locations; they found c.62% of customers will, on average, have to travel less than 25 miles to visit a core service centre, with 78% travelling less than 50 miles.Whilst there are no immediate plans to open a UKVCAS core site in Bristol, service point locations are not fixed and are designed to evolve with demand. Where SSL find there is excess demand for appointments, they work to increase capacity at existing sites and open new sites in the region to ensure all customers are able to book an appointment. Since the start of the contract, several new sites have opened to meet customer demand.

Refugees: Resettlement

Anne McLaughlin: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, how much funding she has allocated to refugee resettlement for 2021-22.

Chris Philp: The first 12 months of a refugee's resettlement costs are funded by central government using the Official Development Assistance budget which amounts to £8,520 per person. For years 2-5 local authorities receive £12,000 per person overall; tapering from £5,000 in year 2, to £3,700 in year 3, to £2,300 in year 4 and £1,000 in year 5. Funding is also made available for healthcare, education, and to help local authorities with exceptional costs such as social care and housing adaptations.This tariff funding will be made available to all local authorities who resettle refugees during 2021-22. The number of refugees resettled next year will be dependent on local authority capacity as we recover from the pandemic.

Parliamentary Works Sponsor Body

Palace of Westminster: Repairs and Maintenance

Dehenna Davison: To ask the Right hon. Member for East Hampshire, representing the Parliamentary Works Sponsor Body, whether the Sponsor Body has made an assessment of the potential effect of the completion of ongoing fire safety works on the cost of the restoration and renewal of the Palace of Westminster.

Damian Hinds: The Sponsor Body is aware of ongoing fire safety works to the Palace of Westminster. The Outline Business Case will take account of completed works, including fire safety works, when proposing cost estimates for the parliamentary building works under the R&R Programme. This will be conditional on further design work and testing.

Palace of Westminster: Repairs and Maintenance

Dehenna Davison: To ask the Right hon. Member for East Hampshire, representing the Parliamentary Works Sponsor Body, what advice the Sponsor Body has sought from (a) the Infrastructure and Projects Authority, (b) HM Treasury and (c) the National Audit Office on the costs of the Restoration and Renewal Programme and ensuring value for money.

Damian Hinds: The Parliamentary Works Sponsor Body has good working relationships with the Infrastructure and Projects Authority (IPA), HM Treasury and the National Audit Office (NAO). As the Sponsor Body transitioned out of Parliament, where it existed in shadow form, to becoming a formal statutory body, advice was sought from the IPA on good practice and lessons learned in areas such as assurance and governance. The relationship with the IPA continues to be positive and the Sponsor Body has recently worked with the IPA to identify independent reviewers for a forthcoming Gateway Review.Productive discussions continue with HM Treasury regarding the Sponsor Body's preparation of the Outline Business Case for the Restoration and Renewal Programme and, under the terms of the Parliamentary Buildings (Restoration and Renewal) Act 2019, HM Treasury also has a role to provide advice to the Parliamentary Works Estimates Commission on the Sponsor Body's Estimate for each financial year prior to that Estimate being laid in the House of Commons.Both the IPA and HM Treasury contributed to the recent Strategic Review via discussions as part of the Review's Challenge Panel.The NAO published a review of the R&R Programme in April 2020, highlighting the vital and urgent need to restore the Houses of Parliament. That report contained a number of helpful recommendations which the Sponsor Body accepted in full. The Sponsor Body welcomes further reviews by the NAO on behalf of Parliament over the coming years to ensure value for money is delivered for the taxpayer. Both the Sponsor Body and Delivery Authority will also continue to work with the NAO to apply lessons learned from NAO reviews of other projects and programmes as well as in relation to the NAO's role as the external auditor for the Sponsor Body and Delivery Authority.

Church Commissioners

Church of England: Land

Jim Shannon: To ask the Member for South West Bedfordshire, representing the Church Commissioners, what steps the church is taking to provide affordable, sustainable and beautiful housing on land it owns.

Andrew Selous: The Church Commissioners have welcomed the report of the Archbishops' Housing Commission. The report 'Coming Home', about housing provision in the UK, calls for a national plan to tackle the housing crisis, it can be read here: https://www.archbishopofcanterbury.org/priorities/coming-homeThe Church Commissioners are producing a framework for the integration of material environmental, social and governance in the management of their Strategic Land, a summary of which can be found here: https://www.churchofengland.org/sites/default/files/2021-02/Strategic%20Land%20ESG%20Integration%20%28ID%20217419%29.pdfMore information about some of the recent property developments on land owned by the Church Commissioners can be found here: https://www.churchofengland.org/sites/default/files/2021-02/Strategic%20Land%20Case%20Studies%20%28ID%20217418%29.pdf

Religious Freedom

Jim Shannon: To ask the Member for South West Bedfordshire, representing the Church Commissioners, what representations the church is making in countries where people are being persecuted for their faith or belief.

Andrew Selous: The Church of England has regular meetings with the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office about countries where people are persecuted for their faith or belief so that Her Majesty’s Government can raise these vital issues with the Governments of the countries concerned.The Church also engages with our heads of mission, civil society groups, and where possible, with the foreign Governments in question.

Church of England: Greenhouse Gas Emissions

Jim Shannon: To ask the Member for South West Bedfordshire, representing the Church Commissioners, what steps the church is taking to reduce its greenhouse gas emissions ahead of COP26.

Andrew Selous: The General Synod of the Church of England, at its meeting in February 2020, committed the Church of England to reach carbon net zero' by 2030. This year the Church of England's National Institutions have reviewed their Energy Footprint Tool, which enables parishes and cathedrals to monitor their carbon usage. The tool was launched in 2020, and it has been used by over 5,000 churches so far. More information can be found here: https://www.churchofengland.org/news-and-media/news-and-statements/one-year-church-moves-forward-carbon-reduction-targetThe Church of England Pensions Board is a member of the Institutional Investors Group on Climate Change (IIGCC). This week the investor group has launched the 'Net Zero Investment Framework' following a period of industry-wide consultation. The framework will enable investors to maximise their contribution to the decarbonisation of the global economy and tackle climate change. More information can be found here: https://www.churchofengland.org/news-and-media/church-england-pensions-board-commits-global-net-zero-investment-frameworkThe Church Commissioners are committed to reaching a net-zero portfolio in 2050, and the Church of England's National Investing Bodies joined the UN Net Zero Asset Owner Alliance in 2020. More detail about the alliance can be found here: https://www.churchofengland.org/news-and-media/news-and-statements/church-england-national-investing-bodies-join-un-convened-netThe Church Commissioners have instituted further climate-related investment restrictions to capture companies with significant greenhouse gas emissions but are not taking their responsibilities seriously to assist with the transition to a net-zero emissions economy. The Commissioners are also setting our first interim emissions reduction target as members of the Net Zero Asset Owner Alliance, working with our public equities managers to achieve it.

Church of England: Land

Jim Shannon: To ask the Member for South West Bedfordshire, representing the Church Commissioners, what steps the church is taking to encourage (a) regenerative agriculture, (b) more treeplanting and (c) good stewardship of hedgerows across its rural estates.

Andrew Selous: The Church Commissioners have indicated that it will not be possible to answer this question within the usual time period. An answer is being prepared and will be provided as soon as it is available.

Remote Education

Jim Shannon: To ask the Member for South West Bedfordshire, representing the Church Commissioners, what steps the church has taken to provide support for the teaching of children at home during the covid-19 lockdown.

Andrew Selous: Church of England schools remained open during the pandemic for key worker children and also, where possible, for those who are unable to study at home. All teachers and staff in Church schools who are providing teaching and care at this difficult time deserve our deep gratitude.Church schools moved rapidly to provide online lessons and resources, looking after children of key workers and overseeing the distribution of free school meal vouchers and technology to make online education possible. The Church is also delighted to have partnered with the Oak National Academy to provide assemblies and weekly collective worship for parents who are home-schooling.Many parishes and cathedrals, such as Wakefield Cathedral, donated laptops and equipment to vulnerable children, which enabled these young people to continue to engage in education from home during the pandemic.

Cabinet Office

Passengers: Coronavirus

Charlotte Nichols: To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster and Minister for the Cabinet Office, whether he plans to introduce mandatory quarantine at hotels to reduce the spread of covid-19 by people arriving from outside the UK.

Sarah Owen: To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster and Minister for the Cabinet Office, what discussions his Department has had with hotel companies on the potential procurement of hotel rooms for the purpose of a New Zealand-style managed isolation and quarantine facility at the border during the covid-19 outbreak.

Penny Mordaunt: As we have said throughout the pandemic, we keep our measures under constant review.The Department of Health and Social Care confirmed that from 15 February anyone travelling to the UK from a country on the UK’s travel ban list will be required to quarantine in a government-approved facility for a period of 10 days. Full guidance for England is here:https://www.gov.uk/guidance/booking-and-staying-in-a-quarantine-hotel-when-you-arrive-in-englandThese actions provide further layers of protection to manage the risk of imported infections and protect our NHS while national lockdown and vaccinations take effect.

Uk Internal Trade: Northern Ireland

Mr Gregory Campbell: To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster and Minister for the Cabinet Office, whether the Border Delivery Group made an assessment of matters arising from the implementation of the Northern Ireland Protocol at its most recent meeting.

Penny Mordaunt: The Border and Protocol Delivery Group is an organisational unit within the Cabinet Office, not a standing body. The UK Government has made clear, though, that there are outstanding issues that must be addressed as to the operation of the Protocol to restore confidence among the people of Northern Ireland following the EU’s invocation of Article 16 on 29 January. The Joint Committee meeting on 24 February underlined the importance of dealing with these issues and of continuing to engage with businesses and other stakeholders as they proceed.

UK-EU Partnership Council and UK-EU Trade and Cooperation Agreement

Hilary Benn: To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster and Minister for the Cabinet Office, which Minister will answer in the House on matters relating to the operation of the UK-EU Trade and Cooperation Agreement and the EU-UK Partnership Council.

Angus Brendan MacNeil: To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster and Minister for the Cabinet Office, whether (a) the Trade Partnership Council and (b) any of its 16 sub-committees have met to date.

Penny Mordaunt: Further to the answer given to PQ138410 on 20 January, there have been no meetings of the Trade Partnership Council to date. It has however agreed by committee procedure, the extension of the provisional application of the Trade and Cooperation Agreement.From 1 March Lord Frost, as Cabinet Office minister, is the UK co-chair of the Partnership Council as of 1 March 2021, and is accountable for its overall operation. Departments will lead on the Trade and Cooperation Specialised Committees in their areas.

UK Trade with EU: Departmental Responsibilities

Angus Brendan MacNeil: To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster and Minister for the Cabinet Office, which Government department has responsibility for (a) oversight of and (b) answering questions on matters relating to trade between the UK and the EU; and if he will make a statement.

Penny Mordaunt: Lord Frost, Minister of State in the Cabinet Office, has Ministerial responsibility for the overall relationship between the UK and the EU, including the core elements of the trade relationship. Within this framework, relevant departments have responsibility for implementing the Trade and Cooperation Agreement in their policy areas.

UK Trade with EU: Wales

Ben Lake: To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster and Minister for the Cabinet Office, what support his Department has provided companies in Wales with regard to the disruption to the flow of essential products between the EU and the UK since 1 January 2021.

Ben Lake: To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster and Minister for the Cabinet Office, what estimate his Department has made of the number of business that have relocated outside Wales since January 2021 due to problems with the flow of essential supplies between the EU and UK.

Ben Lake: To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster and Minister for the Cabinet Office, what estimate his Department has made of the number of business that have relocated outside Wales since January 2021 due to problems with the flow of essential supplies between the EU and UK.

Penny Mordaunt: The Government maintains efforts to support businesses to adapt to the new trading environment. There are a number of online tools available to support businesses, such as the Brexit checker tool and HMRC’s Brexit transition communications resources, and helplines for those who wish to speak to someone. The Government are regularly speaking with businesses and trade representative organisations at the Brexit Business Taskforce in order to hear businesses’ feedback, work through particular issues and discuss what further steps the government may be able to take to help businesses adapt and to thrive.The Cabinet Office does not hold information on the number of businesses, if any, that have relocated outside of Wales.

Holyhead Port: Freight

Virginia Crosbie: To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster and Minister for the Cabinet Office, what steps he has taken to facilitate freight traffic through Holyhead Port since 1 January 2021.

Penny Mordaunt: HMG worked with Welsh Government and local stakeholders to share planning assumptions about potential disruption ahead of the end of the Transition Period and put in place contingency plans, including to manage potential traffic disruption at Holyhead. As there has not been significant traffic disruption to the port, additional facilitative steps have not been needed.We recognise the need to provide as much support to traders, ports and hauliers as possible. The Government has introduced a range of measures to help the industry meet new export requirements, including training, webinars and extensive guidance on GOV.UK. We are increasing our communication and engagement efforts to ensure that traders are confident using Welsh routes.

UK Trade with EU

Rachel Reeves: To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster and Minister for the Cabinet Office, how much has been spent engaging with UK businesses on how they adapt to the new UK-EU trading relationship since the end of the transition period.

Penny Mordaunt: Ministers across government have been speaking directly to hundreds of businesses across the country, including through the Business Brexit Task Force, to develop a shared vision and plan for the future. Such engagement has been integral to support businesses in adapting to our new trading relationship with the EU and to continue to successfully compete on the global stage.The Cabinet Office is consistently tracking and reviewing spend on the UK Transition campaign to ensure our communications to businesses and citizens are efficient. The Cabinet Office is committed to scrutiny and transparency. Details of spend of over £500, including on public information campaigns, are published on a rolling basis on gov.uk - https://www.gov.uk/government/collections/cabinet-office-spend-data.

UK Trade with EU: Advertising

Rachel Reeves: To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster and Minister for the Cabinet Office, how much has been spent on adverts on news websites promoting the success of UK businesses in adapting to the new trading arrangements with the EU.

Penny Mordaunt: I refer the hon. Member to the answer given to PQ 33512.The cross-government Transition communication campaign is guiding and supporting businesses and citizens to adapt to new arrangements since the end of the Transition Period. The campaign has used national advertising including TV, SMS, Radio, Press, Print, Digital and outdoor advertising across owned, earned and paid for channels.The Cabinet Office is consistently tracking and reviewing spend on the Transition campaign to ensure our communications are efficient. Campaign spend is proportionate to ensure UK businesses and consumers know what they need to do to make sure they adapt and thrive under the new rules.Details of spend over £500, including on public information campaigns, is published on a monthly basis on gov.uk - https://www.gov.uk/government/collections/cabinet-office-spend-data.

Civil Servants: Location

Dan Jarvis: To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster and Minister for the Cabinet Office, with reference to the announcement made in Budget 2021 on civil service relocation, what additional plans the Government has to relocate more civil servants outside of London; and when he plans to publish details of those proposed relocations.

Julia Lopez: The Government has committed to ensuring that the administration of Government is less Whitehall-centric with 22,000 civil service roles relocating to the regions and nations of the UK by the end of the decade. As you are aware, HMT and MHCLG both announced their relocation plans in the last few weeks. The Places for Growth programme is working with departments on their relocation plans to ensure a broad geography of the UK is benefiting from this agenda. Further announcements will be made in due course.

Elections: Proof of Identity

Cat Smith: To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster and Minister for the Cabinet Office, with reference to the Government's Voter ID plans, how voters will be asked to prove their identity to local authorities when applying for their free local elector ID.

Chloe Smith: Local authorities will be responsible for issuing local elector identity documents.We will continue to work with local authorities, the Electoral Commission, charities and civil society organisations to make sure that reforms, including the provision of a local elector identity document, are delivered in a way that is inclusive for all voters.Further details will be set out in due course.

Coronavirus: Disease Control

Sir Mike Penning: To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster and Minister for the Cabinet Office, what assessment he has made of the importance of ensuring that expert advice is publicly accountable; and what steps he is taking to ensure that SAGE and its sub-committees can be held accountable to Members of Parliament.

Sir Mike Penning: To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster and Minister for the Cabinet Office, what assessment he has made of the extent to which expert advice provided to Government is directly accountable to Parliament; whether he plans to ensure that SAGE and its sub-committees are directly accountable to Parliament; and if he will make a statement.

Sir Mike Penning: To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster and Minister for the Cabinet Office, what assessment he has made of the extent to which expert advice provided to Government is directly accountable to Parliament; whether he plans to ensure that SAGE and its sub-committees are directly accountable to Parliament; and if he will make a statement.

Penny Mordaunt: The Government is committed to sharing information and data that informs decision-making. The minutes of SAGE meetings and the evidence considered by SAGE are routinely published on GOV.UK.

Treasury

Thalidomide

Alison Thewliss: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, what the Barnett Consquentials are for (a) Scotland, (b) Wales and (c) Northern Ireland of his Budget 2021 announcement on funding for the Thalidomide Health Grant Renewal.

Steve Barclay: At Budget 2021 a lifetime commitment was announced to continue the Thalidomide Health Grant in England once the existing funding commitment expires in 2023-24. The devolved administrations have already received Barnett consequentials in the usual way for any funding provided to the Department of Health and Social Care at previous fiscal events and spending reviews up to 2021-22. For 2022-23 onwards, the devolved administrations will receive funding through the Barnett formula at the upcoming spending review and future fiscal events. The government is committed to engaging closely with them to ensure all recipients benefit from this funding.

Freeport Governance Body: Public Appointments

Bridget Phillipson: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, with reference to each of the eight approved freeport bids announced as part of Budget 2021, whether each bid proposed that (a) one or more or (b) two or more hon. Members should sit on the Freeport Governance Body; and whether each bid proposed a role for democratically elected local councillors, elected mayors, or council leaders, on the Freeport Governance Body.

Bridget Phillipson: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, whether nationally-secured sectoral industrial agreements covering matters of health and safety and rights at work will apply as equally to freeports as they apply to rest of the UK.

Bridget Phillipson: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, whether nationally-secured sectoral industrial agreements covering matters of health and safety and rights at work will apply as equally to freeports as they apply to rest of the UK.

Steve Barclay: Bidders set out the proposed membership for their Governance Body in their bids. As stated in the Prospectus, final governance structures will be agreed between bidders and HMG.Businesses in Freeports – like any other business in the UK – will have to adhere to the UK’s high regulatory standards. Our Freeport model ensures that the UK’s high standards with respect to security, safety, workers’ rights, data protection, biosecurity and the environment will not be compromised.

Free Zones

Bridget Phillipson: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, with reference to the assessment of bids submitted for freeport status on or before 5 February 2021, whether the process set out on pages 38-39 of the Government's Freeports Bidding Prospectus, CP 315 was followed in full; what criteria was used to ensure the process was open; whether any part of the process had its initial timeline hastened or compressed to make it possible to announce the freeports at Budget 2021; on what date the decision on the eight designated freeports was taken; and on what date spending was authorized for transport costs associated with the Prime Minister's visit to Teesside on 4 March 2021.

Steve Barclay: Specific locations were chosen according to the fair, open and transparent assessment process set out in the Bidding Prospectus.

Free Zones

Bridget Phillipson: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, what plans he has to publish details of the submissions made by the eight successful locations in the freeports bidding process.

Steve Barclay: The Ministry for Housing, Communities & Local Government will shortly publish the rationale behind the selection of the 8 successful Freeport locations.

Free Zones

Bridget Phillipson: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, with reference to the announcement of eight freeports as part of Budget 2021, whether the Government plans to designate any further freeports in England, on the basis of bids submitted in advance of the 5 February 2021 bid deadline.

Steve Barclay: The government has no plans to designate further Freeports in England beyond those allocated at this time.

Broadband: Capital Investment

Chi Onwurah: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, whether investment in the laying of fibre cables as part of the UK's broadband rollout will qualify for the Super Deduction on capital expenditure announced in Budget 2021.

Chi Onwurah: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, what assessment he has made of the potential effect of the Super Deduction capital allowance introduced in Budget 2021 on investment in people and skills.

Chi Onwurah: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, what assessment he has made of the potential effect of the Super Deduction capital allowance introduced in Budget 2021 on investment in people and skills.

Jesse Norman: Budget 2021 announced that from 1 April 2021 until 31 March 2023, companies investing in qualifying new plant and machinery assets will benefit from both the 130% super-deduction and a 50% first-year capital allowance. Expenditure on qualifying plant and machinery capital investments used by a company in the course of a trade can qualify for the relevant first-year allowance, including fibre cables. Software can also qualify for the super-deduction, provided the company makes an election to remove software from the intangible fixed assets regime. Expenditure on the learning and development of staff does not qualify for the super-deduction but is already an allowable expense for tax purposes.

Coronavirus Job Retention Scheme: Ethnic Groups

Afzal Khan: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, pursuant to the Answer of 8 March 2021 to Question 160786, on Coronavirus Job Retention Scheme: Ethnic Groups, whether his Department has plans to collect information on the ethnic breakdown of recipients supported by the Coronavirus Job Retention Scheme.

Afzal Khan: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, if his Department will provide information on the number of disabled recipients supported by the Coronavirus Job Retention Scheme.

Jesse Norman: HM Revenue and Customs (HMRC) do not hold information on the ethnicity of employees who have been furloughed under the Coronavirus Job Retention Scheme (CJRS) nor on whether they have a disability. There are no plans to collect this data. HMRC publish statistics on the CJRS. The latest release was published on GOV.UK on 25 February 2020: https://www.gov.uk/government/statistics/coronavirus-job-retention-scheme-statistics-february-2021.

SME Brexit Support Fund

Angus Brendan MacNeil: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, when applications will open for the SME Brexit Support Fund.

Jesse Norman: The Government has recently announced a £20 million SME Brexit Support Fund to help small and medium sized businesses (SMEs) adjust to new customs, rules of origin, and VAT rules when trading with the EU. It is due to open for applications shortly.

Protective Clothing: VAT

Zarah Sultana: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, what assessment he has made of the potential merits of extending the VAT exemption on personal protective equipment available for (a) funeral homes and (b) other businesses.

Jesse Norman: The temporary zero rate was an extraordinary measure introduced to help affected sectors such as hospitals and care homes during the initial acute period of the COVID-19 crisis, when global supply of PPE did not meet demand and PPE was procured directly from the open market. Companies in the funeral sector source their own PPE through their normal supply routes. In extreme circumstances, there is provision for them to approach their Local Resilience Forum (LRF) or local authority, where the LRF has stood down, to discuss access to an emergency supply. Given this, there are no plans to review the VAT treatment of PPE.

Hire Services: UK Trade with EU

Anne McLaughlin: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, pursuant to the Answer of 25 February 2021 to Question 912435 on hire companies and trade with the EU, once the hire company has checked the national regulations of the country it is doing business in to understand how best to operate, what tax is payable when hire goods return through UK customs; what paperwork must be completed; and where hire companies can find the detail of the applicable UK regulations.

Jesse Norman: If taking goods temporarily out of the UK (including hiring), an ATA Carnet can help simplify customs formalities by allowing a single document to be used for clearing goods through customs in the countries that are part of the ATA Carnet system. Both the UK and all EU Member States accept ATA Carnets. In the UK, ATA Carnets are administered by the London Chamber of Commerce and Industry (LCCI). Business wishing to use ATA Carnets are advised to contact the LCCI directly to discuss their business needs. Temporary Admission offers an alternative means to import goods temporarily into the EU, provided the relevant conditions are met. The management of EU import and export procedures is the responsibility of the customs authorities of the EU Member States so businesses and individuals should confirm the processes at their port of arrival. Businesses re-importing goods into the UK can claim relief from import VAT and any customs duty under Returned Goods Relief (RGR), provided specific conditions are met. RGR applies to goods exported from the UK and re-imported within three years in an unaltered state and can apply to goods which are imported into the UK following their export from the UK under Temporary Admission or with an ATA Carnet.

Football: Unpaid Taxes

Damian Collins: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, how much in total is owed by football clubs playing in the English Football League to HMRC in overdue unpaid taxes.

Jesse Norman: Across the English Football League, including the Championship, League 1 and League 2, the total debt is £110,437,964 excluding VAT which was deferred from spring 2020 and is not due until 31 March 2021. The breakdown by league is: Championship£88,897,407League 1£16,601,127League 2£4,939,428total debt£110,437,964

Members: Correspondence

Rosie Cooper: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, when he plans to respond to the letter from the hon. Member for West Lancashire of 27 November 2020 on business rates, reference ZA54614.

Jesse Norman: HM Treasury has no record of receiving the letter of 27 November from the Honourable Member. The Member's follow up correspondence of 18 February is now receiving attention. HM Treasury apologises for the delay in responding and will respond to the Member as soon as possible.

Mortgages: Northern Ireland

Colum Eastwood: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, what discussions he has had with banks in Northern Ireland on the rollout of 95 per cent loan to value mortgages announced in Budget 2021.

John Glen: First time buyers and homemovers will benefit from a new mortgage guarantee scheme, which will increase the availability of 95% loan to value (LTV) mortgage products across the UK, helping borrowers with small deposits into home ownership. The scheme is open to any regulated residential mortgage lender in the UK, including lenders based in Northern Ireland. The Government is open to discussions with any lender interested in joining the scheme. The 2013 Help to Buy: Mortgage guarantee scheme supported 2,660 mortgage completions in Northern Ireland, with the country’s share of mortgage completions under the scheme being higher than its share of overall UK mortgage lending during the same period.

Pensions: Age

Mr Tanmanjeet Singh Dhesi: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, for what reason the Government plans to raise the private pension age.

Mr Tanmanjeet Singh Dhesi: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, what assessment she has made of the potential merits of lowering the private pension age.

John Glen: The normal minimum pension age is the minimum age at which most pension savers can access their pensions without incurring an unauthorised payments tax charge (unless they are retiring due to ill-health). The normal minimum pension age was set at 50 in 2006 when it was introduced and since then, life expectancy at birth for both men and women increased significantly. According to the latest data from the Office for National Statistics, life expectancy has also continued to increase since 2014, when the Coalition Government announced it would increase the normal minimum pension age from 55 to 57 in 2028. Increasing the normal minimum pension age reflects increases in longevity and changing expectations of how long individuals will remain in work and in retirement. Raising the normal minimum pension age to age 57 keeps it around 10 years behind state pension age, and could encourage individuals to save longer for their retirement, and so help ensure that individuals will have financial security in later life. In 2014 the Coalition Government announced that the normal minimum pension age would increase from age 55 to 57 in 2028, following a consultation on the appropriate normal minimum pension age for individuals to access their private pensions without incurring an unauthorised payments tax charge. On 11 February the Government published a consultation on the appropriate protection regime for individuals who have unqualified rights to access their pension before the minimum age. The consultation is open until 22 April 2021. The normal minimum pension age increase will not apply to the public service pension schemes for firefighters, police and the armed forces.

Coronavirus: Disease Control

Chi Onwurah: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, what steps the Government is taking to prioritise covid-19 financial support for hard to reach communities.

Kemi Badenoch: In response to the unparalleled economic shock created by COVID-19, the government quickly provided one of the most comprehensive and generous packages of economic support globally, adapting the help offered as the situation evolved. This has provided timely and targeted temporary support to individuals, families and businesses up and down the UK. At the Budget, the Chancellor announced an additional £65 billion of further measures to support the economy this year and next year, taking the total cumulative cost of the COVID-19 rescue package since the start of the pandemic to £352 billion. The government has extended support for the lowest paid and most vulnerable. The temporary £20 uplift to Universal Credit will continue for a further six months. Working Tax Credit claimants will receive an equivalent of six months of support through a one-off £500 payment.The Coronavirus Job Retention Scheme has now supported 11.2 million jobs across the UK, worth £53.8 billion, and has been extended until the end of September. At the Budget, the Chancellor also announced two further grants of the Self-Employed Income Support Scheme. Self-employed people who filed their 2019/20 tax returns by 2 March will be eligible for both grants, meaning that over 600,000 self-employed individuals may be newly eligible for the SEISS, including many new to self-employment. Vaccines are the best way to protect people from coronavirus, and a new vaccine uptake plan was published on 13 February to boost vaccine uptake in all communities. The Department of Health and the NHS continue to work closely with Black, Asian and minority ethnic communities, listening to the ideas of faith leaders and grassroots organisations, to ensure we can get vaccines to as many people as possible.

Events Industry: Coronavirus

Ed Davey: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, with reference to his Budget 2021 statement on 3 March 2021, whether the support packages for retail, hospitality and leisure businesses extend to the events and exhibitions sector.

Kemi Badenoch: The Government understands this is a difficult time for the events and exhibitions sector who have been acutely impacted by the pandemic.From April business rate paying businesses in these sectors may be eligible for restart grants of up to £18,000 per business premises. Guidance for Local Authorities (LA) on the eligibility for these grants will be published shortly. In addition, the Government has announced LAs in England will receive a top-up worth a total of £425 million to their allocation from the Additional Restrictions Grant (ARG), which has already provided LAs with £1.6 billion. This funding is at the LAs discretion and is intended to support businesses which are not eligible for restart grants, but which are nonetheless experiencing a severe impact on their business.The events and exhibitions sector will also benefit from the extension of the Coronavirus Job Retention Scheme (CJRS), the Self Employments Income Support Scheme (SEISS), the UK-wide Recovery Loan Scheme, and may also benefit from the £300m extension to the Culture Recovery Fund announced at Budget. This is in addition to the £1.57 billion provided in July 2020.

Transport: Environment Protection

Mr Tanmanjeet Singh Dhesi: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, what assessment he has made of the environmental impact of freezing fuel duty while raising rail fares above the level of inflation.

Kemi Badenoch: Households spend a significant amount of their total spending on transport fuels, and fuel costs are a factor in helping the competitiveness of British businesses. These are particularly important considerations in light of the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic with households moving away from public transport towards using their own vehicles to avoid furthering the virus’ spread. As set out at the Budget, future fuel duty rates will be considered in the context of the UK’s commitment to reach net-zero emissions by 2050. The government is taking action to reduce carbon dioxide emissions and improve air quality through Vehicle Excise Duty and the Company Car Tax system. As announced in the Ten Point Plan, the UK will end the sale of new petrol and diesel cars and vans by 2030, ten years earlier than planned. The transition away from petrol and diesel cars and vans will make a vital contribution to meeting our Net Zero commitment. Rail fares increased by 1% above inflation (2.6%) on 1 March 2021 – this is the lowest actual increase in four years. A small rise is necessary to ensure crucial investment in our railways. The government temporarily froze fares, enabling passengers to purchase tickets at a lower price until 28 February. Passenger demand has fallen dramatically over the last year and its recovery is uncertain. The government will continue to work closely with industry on initiatives to support demand and revenue recovery when the time is right, including actively working with train operators to develop a solution that offers better value and convenience for those who commute flexibly.

National Infrastructure Bank and Treasury: Civil Servants

Dan Jarvis: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, with reference to the announcement in Budget 2021 of the creation of the economic campus in Darlington and National Infrastructure Bank in Leeds,  how many civil servant jobs will be (a) created and (b) relocated to each respective institution.

Kemi Badenoch: At least 750 roles from across HM Treasury, the Department for International Trade, the Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government and the Office for National Statistics will be based at the Darlington economic campus. The Treasury’s workforce will be made up of staff who voluntarily relocate from London and through direct recruitment. The UK Infrastructure Bank (UKIB) is a new institution and will be headquartered in Leeds. The UKIB will be launched in interim form later in the Spring with the recruitment of the bank’s Chair currently underway with further roles to follow in due course.

Beer: Excise Duties

Meg Hillier: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, whether he plans to respond to the consultation on the review of Small Brewers' Relief that ran from 30 January 2019 to 17 March 2019; and what steps he is taking to use the findings of that consultation to inform the consultation on Small Brewers' Relief that closes on 4 April 2021.

Kemi Badenoch: Following the announcement of the Small Brewers Relief (SBR) review at the 2018 Budget, the Treasury conducted a survey of brewers between January and March 2019. An update on the review was provided to Parliament in July 2020, outlining the Government’s initial conclusions. In January 2021 a technical consultation was launched to gain further feedback from brewers. The information provided by the consultation will be used alongside the data from the 2019 survey to inform final policy decisions.Further updates will be provided after the close of the consultation.

Department for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport

Post Codes: Databases

Chi Onwurah: To ask the Secretary of State for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport, if he will make an assessment of the role of the Postcode Address File in supporting the implementation of the principles of the UK’s National Data Strategy; and if he will place a copy of that assessment in the Library.

Mr John Whittingdale: The National Data Strategy (NDS) provides a framework for how government will unlock the value of data - laying out the issues we must tackle (the pillars), the objectives we prioritise now (the missions) and the opportunities we must harness. It is not the final answer, but part of a conversation about the way that we support the use of data in the UK.We have completed initial research to develop our evidence base on the opportunities and rationale for Government intervention to enable and encourage better access to data held outside government, such as PAF data owned by Royal Mail. This, and our response to NDS consultation submissions, will be published shortly. Key findings will inform a policy framework for future action.

Football Association Premier League: Coronavirus

Zarah Sultana: To ask the Secretary of State for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport, what steps he plans to take to work with the Premier League to (a) identify breaches of covid-19 lockdown rules by football players and (b) ensure that prosecutions are pursued against those players for any such breaches of those lockdown rules as permitted under the Coronavirus Act 2020.

Nigel Huddleston: The Secretary of State and I met with The Football Association, Premier League and English Football League earlier this year to discuss the importance of adherence to the strict COVID protocols they introduced last season.In that meeting, the Secretary of State and I made the football authorities fully aware of their responsibility to ensure that players and staff act in accordance with government rules and guidance. The football authorities reiterated this important message to their clubs and players, highlighting the significance of both matchday and non-matchday COVID protocols.Any person, no matter their profession, found guilty of breaching the law should be prosecuted accordingly.

Sports: Coronavirus

Zarah Sultana: To ask the Secretary of State for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport, what evidence the Government took into account when making its decision to permit elite sports to continue during the covid-19 lockdown announced in January 2021.

Nigel Huddleston: Elite and professional sports competition has consistently been permitted since June, in common with other work which cannot be conducted from home. Government has issued thorough guidance to support Covid-secure training and competition. Governing bodies have established their own sport specific protocols, including appropriate mitigations and testing regimes. At every stage we have capitalised on medical and public health expertise.

British Board of Film Classification

Catherine McKinnell: To ask the Secretary of State for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport, if he will consult with the British Board of Film Classification on the development of the Online Safety Bill in relation to (a) content standards and (b) the regulation of pornographic content.

Caroline Dinenage: Ministers and officials will continue to engage with a wide range of stakeholders on the development of the Online Safety Bill, including the BBFC. The BBFC offers unparalleled expertise in content classification, including pornographic content.The video sharing platform regime, for which Ofcom is the regulator, came into force on 1 November 2020. UK-established video sharing platforms must now take appropriate measures to protect the public, including minors, from illegal and harmful material. Ofcom, and the British Board of Film Classification (BBFC) have a strong collaborative relationship when working on audience protection issues. The BBFC is engaging actively with both Ofcom and video sharing platforms to share their expertise on emerging technologies and the applicability of content ratings.Over the past year the government has also been working with the BBFC and industry to drive the voluntary adoption of the BBFC’s age rating symbols by video on demand platforms. We will continue to engage with industry to encourage platforms to use BBFC age ratings, and will keep the evidence for legislation in this area under review.

Video on Demand

Catherine McKinnell: To ask the Secretary of State for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport, what steps he is taking to ensure that video-on-demand and streaming platforms adhere to best practice age labelling guidelines produced by the British Board of Film Classification.

Caroline Dinenage: As the designated body for age classification of film content, the Government has great trust in the British Board of Film Classification’s (BBFC) best practice age ratings.While adoption of the BBFC’s age ratings by online platforms is currently voluntary, we welcome their usage by Video on Demand platforms. We were particularly pleased to see Netflix announce on 1 December 2020 that they have become the first platform to achieve complete coverage of their content under the BBFC’s ratings. We will continue to engage with industry to encourage other Video on Demand platforms to adopt the BBFC’s ratings across all of their content, and will keep the evidence for legislation in this area under review.The video sharing platform regime, for which Ofcom is the regulator, came into force on 1 November 2020. UK-established video sharing platforms must now take appropriate measures to protect the public, including minors, from illegal and harmful material. The BBFC is engaging actively with both Ofcom and video sharing platforms to share their expertise on emerging technologies and the applicability of content ratings on the streaming platforms.

Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs

Horse Racing: Animal Welfare

Kenny MacAskill: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, how many horses in the racing industry have died in training, as opposed to on course as a result of racing, in the UK in each of the last five years; and what the (a) ages of those horses and (b) causes of death were.

Kenny MacAskill: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what steps the Government plans to take to ensure that horses in the racing industry are not abused, subjected to cruelty or die as a result of training or racing.

Kenny MacAskill: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, how many times he has met the (a) British Horseracing Authority and (b) Horse Welfare Board on matters relating to race horse welfare in (i) 2019, (ii) 2020 and (iii) 2021 to date.

Kenny MacAskill: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, with reference to 130 horses dying on course in 2020, what steps he plans to take to ensure that horses are not killed as the result of racing.

Victoria Prentis: Ensuring the welfare needs of racehorses are well met, both during their racing lives and afterwards is a priority. The British Horseracing Authority (BHA), British racing’s governing and regulatory body, is responsible for the safety of racehorses at British racecourses. The BHA works alongside the RSPCA and World Horse Welfare to make horseracing as safe as possible.The Government welcomed the creation of the racing industry’s Horse Welfare Board (HWB), which was formed in March 2019. The Board is chaired by Barry Johnson, former President of the Royal College of Veterinary Surgeons (who is independent of the BHA) and includes members from across the racing industry, veterinarians and animal health and welfare experts. The Board has assured Defra that it is committed to doing all it can to make the sport safer and improve welfare outcomes. The HWB published its five-year horse welfare strategy “A life well lived” last year:http://media.britishhorseracing.com/bha/Welfare/HWB/WELFARE_STRATEGY.pdf.The strategy contains 20 recommendations for the industry aimed at ensuring the best possible safety and quality of life for racehorses.One of the plan’s five identified outcomes (outcome 3 - 'Best possible safety') aims to reduce and minimise, as far as reasonably possible, avoidable injuries and fatalities to racehorses. This targets a reduction in injuries and fatalities on racecourses but also those that occur in, or as a result of, training or pre-training methods, or which are linked to breeding. The HWB has underlined the importance of data to better understand the causes of injuries and fatalities to help achieve this outcome. Defra does not hold any information related to racehorse fatalities including those that have occurred during training. However, as well as collating and publishing data on racing fatalities, the BHA, following the recommendations contained within the HWB’s strategy, is working to improve data gathering in relation to thoroughbred racehorse fatalities in training. This includes analysis of data and reporting mechanisms which already exist regarding horses in training, and how these can be improved to provide additional data on fatal injuries. The Secretary of State has not met representatives of either the BHA or the HWB between 2019 and now. I can confirm that the Parliamentary Under Secretary of State at that time met with the BHA’s Director of Equine Health and the HWB’s Independent Chair in May 2019 where both sides agreed that further action was required to make the sport safer and to improve animal welfare standards across the industry. My officials plan to meet with the BHA in due course and will continue to engage with the sector to ensure that the welfare of racehorses, and reducing the fatalities and injuries that result from racing, remain at the forefront of the BHA’s priorities in delivering the plan’s outcomes.

Dogs: Imports and Sales

Sir Greg Knight: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what steps he is taking to prevent the (a) import and (b) advertising and sale of dogs with cropped ears in the UK; and if he will make a statement.

Victoria Prentis: The practice of mutilating dogs’ ears is abhorrent and has rightly been banned in the UK for 15 years. We already have some of the world’s highest animal welfare standards. The end of the transition period has opened up new opportunities for managing our own pet travel and commercial importation rules. We are actively listening to the concerns of stakeholders and the Government is considering options regarding the importation and commercial movements of dogs with cropped ears into Great Britain in line with World Trade Organization rules. Importers of animals must adhere to welfare standards as set out in Council Regulation (EC) 1/2005 on the protection of animals during transport and in domestic legislation, The Welfare of Animals (Transport) (England) Order 2006 (WATEO). This legislation aims to protect the health and welfare of animals during transportation and applies to dogs that are suffering injury as a result of non-exempted mutilations including cropped ears. The maximum penalty for causing unnecessary suffering to an animal or cropping a dog’s ears in England is six months’ imprisonment and/or an unlimited fine. However, the Government is committed to increasing the maximum custodial penalty for both of these offences from six months to five years. The Animal Welfare (Sentencing) Bill, currently before Parliament, which will implement this increase, will continue to receive Government support as it completes its passage through Parliament. The Government also continues to raise awareness regarding the improper selling of pets by deceitful sellers in the UK and abroad through our ‘Petfished’ campaign. This seeks to educate prospective pet buyers on common tricks and tactics used by deceitful sellers which may result in the purchase of a mistreated or unwell pet, including those that have been subject to cropping. The campaign urges buyers to mitigate risks, for example by buying from trusted sellers such as those under the Kennel Club’s Assured Breeder scheme, viewing puppies with their mothers and siblings, asking questions of the seller and following the Animal Welfare Foundation and RSPCA Puppy Contract to ensure that puppies are in good health when purchased.

Potatoes: UK Trade with EU

Dave Doogan: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what assessment his Department has made of the potential effect on domestic potato producers of banning the anti-sprouting component DMN while allowing EU potato producers using that component to import potatoes to the UK.

Victoria Prentis: Before a pesticide can be used, its active substance must be approved and the pesticide itself must be authorised. Decisions on approval and authorisation are based on an assessment of the risks posed to people and to the environment. Such decisions are devolved and so are taken by the relevant government or by the Health and Safety Executive on its behalf. Decisions on the authorisation of pesticides for use in Scotland are not, therefore, taken by the UK Government. The active substance 1,4-dimethylnaphthalene (1,4-DMN) is approved but at present there is no authorised product. All four UK governments have granted an emergency authorisation allowing the limited and controlled use until 31 May of a 1,4-DMN product to prevent sprouting of harvested potatoes. This emergency authorisation is granted in recognition of the need for sprout suppression and the lack, in certain circumstances, of alternative means of control. Potatoes treated with 1,4-DMN are only permitted to be imported from the EU or elsewhere if the level of the chemical is below a statutory Maximum Residue Level of 15 mg/kg.

Agriculture: Subsidies

Daniel Zeichner: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what proportion of direct payments made to farmers were (a) less than £30,000, (b) £30,000 to £50,000, (c) £50,001 to £150,000 and (d) more than £150,000 in the most recent financial year for which that information is available.

Victoria Prentis: The Rural Payments Agency (RPA) has a number of schemes providing direct payments to the rural economy. The three main land schemes, which offer an annual payment, are Basic Payment Scheme (BPS), Countryside Stewardship (CS) and the Environmental Stewardship Scheme (ES). For the current 2020 Scheme year the figures are below: BPS Paid Population = 83,593  BPS Proportion of Paymentsa)less than £30,00079.8%b)£30,000 to £50,0009.8%c)£50,001 to £150,0009.1%d)over £150,0001.3% CS Paid Population = 12,409  CS Proportion of Paymentsa)less than £30,00095.7%b)£30,000 to £50,0002.9%c)£50,001 to £150,0001.3%d)over £150,0000.1% ES Paid Population = 8,300  ES Proportion of Paymentsa)Less than £30,00089.0%b)£30,000 to £50,0006.4%c)£50,001 to £150,0004.1%d)Over £150,0000.4%

Hedgehogs: Conservation

Virginia Crosbie: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what recent estimate he has made of hedgehog numbers in the UK; and if he will take steps to move hedgehogs to schedule 5 of the Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981 to strengthen their protections.

Rebecca Pow: The latest ‘Review of the Population and Conservation Status of British Mammals’ estimates the hedgehog populations in the UK is 522,000. Wildlife policy is a devolved issue and this response is with regard to England only.The Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981 sets out a legal duty for the Joint Nature Conservation Committee (JNCC) to undertake a review of Schedule 5 and 8 (protected species) every five years to determine whether any further species warrant inclusion, and for the Secretary of State to lay this advice before Parliament. This review process is science led and evidence based, with criteria for consideration of species agreed across the jurisdictions of the UK. The JNCC is currently reviewing schedule 5 and will make recommendations for any additions at the end of this year.

Plastics: Biodegradability

Navendu Mishra: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what steps the Government is taking to (a) assess and (b) rollout the use of additives to make ordinary plastic biodegradable.

Rebecca Pow: In 2015, a Government report concluded that existing biodegradable standards are only applicable to very specific conditions such as industrial composters. We are concerned that, in the absence of robust standards, claims about the biodegradability of plastic-based products cannot be verified leading to potential confusion in the marketplace, possible increased levels of consumption and potential environmental harm at the point of disposal. Furthermore, in line with the advice received from the Hazardous Substances Advisory Committee and as set out in the Resources and Waste Strategy, the Government’s focus is on encouraging increased reuse and recycling of products and materials, to extract maximum value from them, in line with our ambition to transition to a circular economy. This being said, the Government recognises that innovation into biodegradable plastics could help reduce the environmental impacts of plastics if they are disposed of in the right way. However, this is often not the case. If mistakenly recycled with other plastics, they have the potential to damage the quality of the new products made from the recycled plastic. Furthermore, concerns persist that plastics which are claimed to be biodegradable, if littered or otherwise released into the environment in an uncontrolled way, may not degrade quickly or at all, and they can only be composted if they meet relevant standards and are treated in line with those standards. As a consequence of these concerns, the Government published a call for evidence in 2019 to help consider the development of product standards or certification criteria for bio-based, biodegradable, and compostable plastics as well as to better understand their effects on the environment and our current waste system. The call for evidence is now closed and we are currently analysing the responses received; we will publish a Government response shortly.

Horses: Equine Herpes Virus

Anne Marie Morris: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what steps his Department is taking to prevent the spread of the equine herpes virus into the UK.

Victoria Prentis: We are aware of the outbreak of Equine Herpes Virus (EHV-1) in Europe and are monitoring the situation closely. We are in regular contact with the equine sector and working with them to ensure owners are informed about the risks and are taking the necessary precautions to keep their animals safe. Equine Herpes Virus (EHV) is not notifiable to government and isolation of sick animals is the best protection against infection. There is no public health risk. Horse owners are advised to contact their private vet if they observe any respiratory illness, abortion or neurological signs in horses or ponies in their care or would like to discuss options for vaccination against the disease. We are monitoring the effectiveness of vaccination with disease experts and the British Equine Veterinary Association. All horses imported into the UK are required to be certified as being fit to travel and not to have originated from a premises where disease is known to be present. Any horses imported into the UK should be placed in isolation for at least 10 days before allowing them to mix with other equines. Comprehensive industry advice and guidance on biosecurity and vaccination is available online.

Water: Consumption

Catherine West: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, when his Department plans to set the personal water consumption target consulted on in 2019.

Rebecca Pow: Good progress has been made in water efficiency policy development. Some of our work was paused last winter, to support work on Covid-19. Our efficiency work now continues at pace and we are committed to publishing the Government response this spring, which sets out our ambition and a package of policies to reduce household water consumption.

COP26

UN Climate Conference 2021 : Expenditure

Ruth Jones: To ask the President of COP26, how much the Government has spent on preparations for COP26 since (a) 1 January 2020 and (b) 1 January 2021.

Alok Sharma: Discussions on costs for COP26 are currently ongoing, and final budgets are yet to be confirmed. After the event, spend will be reported in the usual way.

Woodhouse Colliery

Margaret Ferrier: To ask the President of COP26, what representations he has made to Cabinet colleagues on the effect of the Woodhouse Colliery project on the UK's Paris Climate Agreement obligations.

Alok Sharma: I have regular meetings with Cabinet colleagues on a variety of issues. It is for councils to make a decision on the planning proposals which are submitted to them, applying the Government’s national planning rules and weighing up each case on its merits. Coal generated only 1.6% of the UK’s electricity mix in 2020, compared with almost 25% five years ago.The UK is fully committed to decarbonising industry and phasing out coal for power generation by 2024 (subject to consultation) as part of our pathway to net zero emissions by 2050.

Women and Equalities

Gender Equality Advisory Council

Emily Thornberry: To ask the Minister for Women and Equalities, what recent progress the Government has made in contributing to the 2018 G7 Gender Equality Advisory Council’s recommendations (a) 18.1, (b) 28 and (c) 40.

Elizabeth Truss: Under the UK G7 Presidency, the Prime Minister has reconvened the Gender Equality Advisory Council (GEAC). I am delighted to act as Ministerial Lead working with the independent Council and building on the foundations laid by the Canadian and French G7 presidencies, and to champion the core principles of freedom, opportunity, individual humanity and dignity for women around the world.The Government remains deeply committed to tackling global poverty and helping to achieve the UN Sustainable Development Goals. Despite the economic challenges we face, the UK will remain a major donor spending 0.5 per cent of GNI on Overseas Development Aid (ODA).The Foreign Secretary’s Strategic Framework for UK ODA announced in the House on 26 November 2020 will see us focus on global challenges where the UK can make the most impact: on climate change and biodiversity; girls’ education; COVID and global health security; on open societies, conflict resolution, humanitarian crises and trade and economic development.FCDO supports a range of programmes that promote the importance of data to inform policy-making and programme delivery focused on the needs of the most vulnerable. Having joined the Inclusive Data Charter last year, we will produce an Action Plan on improving the quality, quantity, financing, and availability of inclusive and disaggregated data, as well as the capacity and capability to produce and use it.The Prime Minister has made absolutely clear our continued commitment to stand up for the right of every girl to 12 years of quality education. ODA spending is only one of our tools in achieving our ambitions; this year we will be co-hosting the Global Partnership for Education Replenishment with Kenya and using our G7 Presidency to rally the international community to step up support to girls’ education.

Gender Equality Advisory Council

Emily Thornberry: To ask the Minister for Women and Equalities, what remuneration members of the Gender Equality Advisory Council will receive for the work they do on behalf of the UK’s G7 presidency.

Elizabeth Truss: Membership of the Gender Equality Advisory Council is voluntary and unpaid.